Pope Francis, just about four months after being elevated from Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, released his first encyclical, entitled Lumen Fidei [The Light of Faith] the new pontiff discusses the reality of the gift of faith in contrast to the secular understanding of the world.

There is an urgent need, then, to see once again that faith is a light, for once the flame of faith dies out, all other lights begin to dim. The light of faith is unique, since it is capable of illuminating every aspect of human existence. A light this powerful cannot come from ourselves but from a more primordial source: in a word, it must come from God. –Lumen Fidei #4

Released just before the beginning of the second half of the year, the eight-eight page letter addresses among other things, how the light of our faith is so much greater than the light of the world.

Available in nine languages, including Arabic, Latin, Polish and English Lumen Fidei can be accessed at the Vatican website