Pope Leo XIV Reveals to an Atheist 'who loves God' that He can "be found by the heart that seeks him”
Pope Leo XIV: Faith is in the Seeking, Not Just the Believing
In the February issue of Piazza San Pietro, Pope Leo XIV addresses the complexities of modern belief in a poignant response to Rocco, a man from Reggio Calabria wrestling with his atheism. The exchange, featured in an edition themed “Faith that endures suffering,” suggests that the heart’s restlessness is often a form of faith in itself.
The Paradox of the "Believing Atheist"
Rocco reached out to the Pontiff sharing a poem inspired by the "mystery of harmony" found in nature. Despite his observations of the world’s beauty, he describes a deep internal conflict. His poem concludes with a striking contradiction:
“I believe I do not believe, absolutely certain of nothingness, I continue to yearn for God. My drama is God! My restlessness is God!”
Confused by this pull toward the divine despite his lack of formal conviction, Rocco asked the Pope:
“How is it possible to consider oneself an atheist and love God? I feel this need to love God, but I consider myself an atheist, or perhaps, I believe I am one and deep down I am searching for God?”
A Radical Re-categorization of Faith
Pope Leo XIV responded by grounding the conversation in the wisdom of the Church Fathers, specifically quoting St. Augustine:
“You were within me, but I was outside myself, and there I sought you!”
The Pope’s reply challenges the traditional binary of "theist" versus "atheist," suggesting that the desire for God is, in fact, evidence of His presence. He offered several insights to comfort Rocco:
On Sincerity: “These words are enough to tell you that those who love God, those who seek Him with a sincere heart, cannot be atheists.”
On the Core of Faith: “The real problem with faith is not believing or not believing in God, but seeking Him!”
On Divine Discovery: “He allows himself to be found by the heart that seeks him.”
Ultimately, the Pope proposed a shift in how we view the human condition. He noted that “perhaps the right distinction to make is not so much between believers and non-believers, but between seekers and non-seekers of God.”
The Universal Longing
Closing his message, the Pope reminded Rocco that his "drama" is one shared by all of humanity. Regardless of the labels we choose, the internal drive for meaning is what defines us.
“You see, Rocco, we are all longing for Love, we are all seekers of God. And therein lies the dignity and beauty of our lives.”
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