Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) Pope Francis’ Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on Love in the Family, was published on Friday 8 April 2016.
Written in a style that we have come to associate with Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia contains a broad-ranging blend of biblical passages, meditations on marital love, a recognition of how lonely modern life can be and a call for families to come closer to the church. He admits that the church has made mistakes in alienating families and dedicates many passages to describing Pope Francis highlights the pressures endured by families affected by poverty, migration, drug abuse and violence.
The Pope bemoans that the Church has been negligent in the past in ministering to the needs of families in their difficulties. He urges Churches and Governments to commit to supporting familes in the form of health care, education and employment.
Amoris Laetitia, containing 261 pages, is divided into nine chapters as follows:
- Chapter One – In The Light The Word
- Chapter 2 – The Experiences And Challenges Of Families
- Chapter 3 – Looking To Jesus: The Vocation Of The Family
- Chapter 4 – Love In Marriage
- Chapter 5 – Love Made Fruitful
- Chapter 6 – Some Pastoral Perspectives
- Chapter 7 – Towards A Better Education Of Children
- Chapter 8 – Accompanying, Discerning And Integrating Weakness
- Chapter 9 – The Spirituality Of Marriage And The Family
