VATICAN CITY (EWTN News) – In the February issue of the magazine Piazza San Pietro, Pope Leo XIV answered a man named Rocco, who asked, “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?” Pope Leo emphasized that “one cannot be an atheist who loves God, who seeks him with a sincere heart.” God “allows himself to be found by the heart that seeks him, and perhaps the correct distinction to make is not so much between believers and nonbelievers but between those who seek God and those who do not.” He concluded, “One can believe that one believes and not seek the face of God, not love him; one can believe that one does not believe and be ardent seekers of his face, loving him as you do. So, Rocco, we are all longing for Love, we are all seekers of God. And therein lies the dignity and beauty of our lives.”