In his recent address during the Regina caeli prayer, Pope Leo XIV made a profound theological clarification: God's love is not the reward for our righteousness, but rather its foundation. This distinction, the Pontiff explained, frees us from a widespread misunderstanding that leads many believers astray.
The Pope referred to Jesus' words in the Gospel of John: 'If you love me, you will keep my commandments' (John 14:15). He emphasized that this statement should not be understood as a threat or a condition, but as an invitation to a deep, loving relationship with God.
The Misunderstanding of Conditional Love
Many Christians, Pope Leo noted, tend to assume that they must first keep the commandments to earn God's love. However, this notion is fundamentally wrong. 'Our righteousness would then be the prerequisite for God's love,' he clarified. 'On the contrary: God's love is the prerequisite for our righteousness.'
This reversal of perspective is crucial for a healthy spiritual life. Human beings are not called to earn God's love, but to receive it as a gift. Only from this received love can they truly be able to keep the commandments—not out of fear or duty, but out of gratitude and love.
Scripture as a Witness to Unconditional Love
Already in the Old Testament, God's unconditional love for his people is evident. As it is written in Deuteronomy: 'It was not because you were more numerous than any other people that the Lord set his heart on you and chose you—for you were the fewest of all peoples—but because the Lord loves you' (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). This love is the reason God makes a covenant with Israel, not the other way around.
The Apostle John also emphasizes in his first letter: 'Not that we loved God, but that he loved us' (1 John 4:10). This divine initiative is the starting point of all Christian action.
The Love of Christ as the Standard
Pope Leo XIV continued by saying that Jesus Christ himself is the measure of true love. His love is 'eternally faithful, pure, and unconditional.' It knows no 'but' or 'maybe,' it gives itself without wanting to possess, and it gives life without asking anything in return.
This love enables human beings to love. 'Because God loves us first, we too can love; and if we truly love God, we also truly love one another,' the Pope said. He compared this to life itself: only those who have received life can live; so too, only those who have been loved can love.
The Commandments as an Order of Life
In this light, God's commandments appear not as a burden, but as an 'order of life that heals us from false forms of love.' They are a spiritual path that leads to salvation. By giving true and eternal love, Jesus makes believers share in his identity as the beloved Son.
This participation refutes the 'accuser,' the adversary of the Holy Spirit. While the Holy Spirit is the power of truth, the 'father of lies' (John 8:44) tries to set people against God and against each other. Jesus, however, saves from evil and unites people as a people of brothers and sisters in the Church.
Practical Application for Daily Life
What does this message mean for the daily life of a Christian? First of all, a liberation from performance mentality: God does not love us because we are perfect, but because He is love. This knowledge can help us be more tolerant of our own mistakes and not be paralyzed by feelings of guilt.
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