God is Love: First encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI Vatican City (VIS) - Pope Benedict XVI's first Encyclical, entitled "Deus caritas est" ("God is love"), dated Dec. 25, 2005, Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, was released Jan. 25, 2006. It considers the question of Christian love.

The Encyclical is divided into two long parts. The first, entitled, "The Unity of Love in Creation and in Salvation History," presents a theological/philosophical reflection on "love" in its various dimensions: eros, philia and agape, highlighting certain vital aspects of God's love for man and the inherent links that such love has with human love. The second part, entitled "The Practice of Love by the Church as a "Community of Love," concerns the concrete implementation of the commandment to love others. (Click here to read a summary of the encyclical)