Rome, Feb. 01 (CWNews.com) - In an unprecedented gesture, Pope Benedict XVI  has written an introductory about his own encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, for the magazine Famiglia Cristiana. The Italian weekly has published a special edition, containing the entirety of the Pope's encyclical, with a cover date of February 5.

"I am happy that Famiglia Cristiana is sending you the text of my encyclical, and giving me the opportunity to accompany it with a few words intended to help the reader approach it," the Pope writes. Famiglia Cristiana, through an agreement with the Vatican, has printed an extraordinary 100,000 copies of the special issue for distribution.

The encyclical may be "a bit difficult and theoretical at the beginning," the Pope admits. But eventually, he says, the reader will realize that he is simply trying to "respond to some very concrete questions about human life."

The Pope also mentions several points in the encyclical that he considers worth extra thought, and asks questions that the letter seeks to answer. "Can we really love God" is one such question, he writes. Another is "Can we really love our neighbor, who is unknown or even hostile?" In each case he says that the answer is Yes.

"Love is not just a sentiment," the Pope writes. "The will and intelligence are involved, too." We show our love for others when we wish them well, he says.

In another rhetorical question, the Pope asks whether Christianity has taken the joy out of eros. He explains that in the encyclical he hopes to demonstrate that in fact eros is deprived of its most profound realization when people seek only immediate happiness. On the other hand, he continues, when lovers give themselves to one another, "with the whole body and soul," they reach a completion of eros in self-giving love.

In his notes on the second part of the encyclical, regarding the charitable activity of the Church, the Holy Father emphasizes that the Church should not be involved directly in partisan political affairs. Rather, he says, the Christian community acts in "a communal service of love." While respecting and encouraging other humanitarian impulses, the Church must perform her own acts of charity, because without that activity the love of the Church is incomplete.

Working for justice in the political realm is the proper sphere of the Christian laity, the Pope writes. But even if justice could be achieved, our neighbors would still need love, which the Church must still provide.

Famiglia Cristiana had planned to publish Deus Caritas Est in a special edition dated January 29. But the multiple delays in the publication of the papal letter caused a postponement in the magazine's appearance.

The Pope's first encyclical was released on January 25. In Italy it has already become a best-seller, with over 500,000 copies sold.