Pope Leo XIV responds to an atheist 'who loves God'

Pope Leo XIV responded to an atheist who paradoxically described himself as someone who "loves God," explaining to him that "the real problem of faith" isn't believing or not believing in him but seeking him.

In the February issue of the magazine Piazza San Pietro, the pope answered a man named Rocco from Reggio Calabria, Italy, who asked for help with some questions he had: "How is it possible to consider oneself an atheist and love God? I feel the need to love God, but I consider myself an atheist, or perhaps I think I am, and deep down, am I seeking God?"

To better express what he was going through, Rocco sent the pope the following poem: "I observe nature, spying on every development: the sunrise or its setting on the horizon; the starry sky and the mystery of harmony. I believe that I don't believe, absolutely certain of nothingness, yet I still yearn for God. My drama is God! My restlessness is God! An atheist who loves God!"