Cando lucis aeternae

The apostolic letter was published on 25 March, the date of which coincided with both the Feast of the Annunciation within the Catholic Church and Dante Day (Dantedì) in Italy.

[2] Pope Francis wrote the letter to urge others, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, to read Dante's Divine Comedy.

Francis refers to the Divine Comedy as "an integral part of our culture" and "embodies that patrimony of ideals and values that the Church and civil society continue to propose."

Francis also discusses what he sees as the two main pillars within Dante's work, "an innate desire in the human heart" and "fulfilment in the happiness bestowed by the vision of the Love who is God."

He also writes on three prominent female figures in the work, Mary, Mother of Jesus, Beatrice, and Saint Lucy (who represent charity, hope, and faith respectively);[5] as well as the role that Francis of Assisi (who the pontiff chose his name in honor of) plays in the poem.