Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has released his first Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi te, calling upon Christians worldwide to recognize Christ in the poor, the suffering, and the marginalized. Drawing inspiration from the Gospel and the example of his predecessors, Pope Leo emphasizes that faith is inseparable from active love and concern for those in need. Signed on 4 October, the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the document situates the Holy Father within a lineage of pontiffs, from Saint John XXIII to Francis, who have consistently highlighted the Church’s preferential option for the poor.
The 121-paragraph exhortation, whose title means “I have loved you” (Rev 3:9), underscores the intimate connection between Christ’s love and care for the vulnerable. Pope Leo writes that the Son of God, through His Incarnation, “became poor for our sakes,” and that the Church’s social teaching over the past 150 years offers a rich treasury of guidance for living out this call. The document addresses multiple dimensions of poverty not only material deprivation but also social, cultural, spiritual, and moral poverty and stresses that the poor are not in their condition by choice or blind fate.
Pope Leo warns against the persistence of inequality and the emergence of subtle, dangerous forms of poverty perpetuated by economic systems that favor a wealthy few. He critiques ideologies defending “the absolute autonomy of the marketplace” and denounces the so-called “dictatorship of an economy that kills,” which tolerates indifference toward those living in hunger and marginalization. According to the Pope, Christians must adopt a “change in mentality,” rejecting the illusion that happiness derives solely from wealth and social success, and embracing a vision of life that prioritizes human dignity and solidarity.
Migration and forced displacement occupy a significant place in Dilexi te. The Holy Father invokes the tragic image of Alan Kurdi, the Syrian child who drowned in 2015, to illustrate the human cost of global indifference. He reminds the faithful that in every rejected migrant, “it is Christ Himself who knocks at the door of the community.” The exhortation draws upon Francis’ guidance, calling for migrants to be welcomed, protected, promoted, and integrated, and portrays the poor as teachers of the Gospel rather than mere objects of charity.
Pope Leo also addresses the plight of women, particularly those who face violence, exclusion, and marginalization. He underscores the duty of Christians to care for all who suffer, warning against attitudes that dismiss almsgiving or regard it as an optional act of piety. The Pope insists that charity must remain central to the Church’s mission, not merely a symbolic gesture but a lived encounter with the vulnerable that transforms hearts and communities.
Throughout Dilexi te, the Holy Father recalls the example of saints, blesseds, and religious orders who have embodied a “poor Church for the poor.” From Saint Francis of Assisi embracing lepers, to Mother Teresa serving the destitute, to Camillians, Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites, Augustinians, Trinitarians, and Mercedarians acting in defense of prisoners, the Pope emphasizes that true Christian charity is incarnational, liberating, and proactive. He also highlights the right to education as essential to human dignity, citing Saint Joseph Calasanz and urging the Church to make knowledge accessible to all children.
The exhortation also encourages popular movements and grassroots initiatives that challenge unjust economic and political systems. Pope Leo stresses that Christians must raise their voices to denounce structural inequalities, advocate for social justice, and pursue policies that uphold the dignity of every person. He reiterates that the poor are at the very heart of the Church, not merely as beneficiaries of charity but as integral members of the Christian community, whose presence calls believers to conversion and faithful action.
Concluding Dilexi te, Pope Leo XIV issues a compelling reminder: faith is incomplete without love for the poor. “No Christian can regard the poor simply as a societal problem,” he writes. “They are part of our family. They are one of us… The poor are at the heart of the Church.” The exhortation is both a reflection and a call to action, urging the faithful to let themselves be evangelized by those they serve and to embody the love of Christ through tangible acts of justice, mercy, and solidarity.