Leo XIV quotes «The Lord of the Rings» in his first encyclical. A precise theological act, in an era of “spiritual tiredness”
«It is not up to us to dominate all the tides of the world; our task is to do everything possible to save the years in which we live, eradicating evil from the fields we know, in order to leave healthy and clean land to cultivate for those who come after.” All fans of Lord of the RingsThe magnum opus of the legendary writer JRR Tolkien, they know this phrase as a verse from the Gospel, and they venerate Gandalf who pronounces it almost in the same way as a pope.
Leo XIV and the Tolkenian encyclical
Well, the literary quotation was anything but a casual choice for Leo XIV, who included it as a pillar of his first encyclical Magnificent humanityofficially published on May 25, 2026. No, this precise decision is due to the very particular moment that humanity is experiencing, between wars, diseases, artificial intelligence and a world that seems to be moving ever faster in an increasingly unspecified direction.
Here, in this cultural fog that clouds the minds of the faithful (and not only), an authoritative and enlightened voice like that of Tolkien, who makes himself speak through the wise words of Gandalf, represents that moral and spiritual guidance that man needs to feed greedily.
Tolkien’s Christian faith
On the other hand, the author of Lord of the Rings he openly and repeatedly expressed his visceral Christian faith, of which his work is imbued to the core. The clash between Good and Evil, the loyalty of the little ones (in the novel, the hobbits), the corruption of absolute power, the importance of friendship, mercy and perseverance. Tolkien does not exalt brute strength, but rather fortitude. The one who remains true to himself and others wins. The novel belongs to the fantasy genre, it’s true, but it also represents a cultural compass to be taken as daily inspiration for the very high values it represents, from hope to the spirit of sacrifice.
How Tolkien introduces young people to Christianity
The Tolkenian influence on readers of all ages, also thanks to Peter Jackson’s films, makes the mention in the encyclical a move of notable foresight on the part of the Church, which abandons the sometimes excessively dark or philosophical tone to embrace a work which, in addition to being of extraordinary value, is also capable of reaching a wider segment, especially the young one who in the positive characters – such as Gandalf – of the Lord of the Ringsyou see a model to follow and embody in your own routine.
Why «The Lord of the Rings» is important in everyday life
Indeed, as Gandalf reminds us, “it is not up to us to dominate all the tides of the world”. However, we are responsible, at least, for the way we inhabit it. From this perspective, it becomes fundamental make the best use of our time. What legacy will we leave to our children? What hope will we convey to them?
We must start again from the imperative of stay humanas Leone recalls, without giving in to artificial temptations but letting himself be inspired by the words of Gandalf and those little hobbits who, thanks to their courage and humanity, were able to defeat Sauron, the apparently invincible Dark Lord.
