TARLAKENYO (Oct. 10, 2025) – In a poignant debut to his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV has released his first major official document, the Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi Te (“I Have Loved You”), urging the Catholic Church to renew its commitment to the poor as central to the Gospel message.
The document, signed on October 4—the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, positions the poor not merely as recipients of charity but as evangelists who can lead the faithful to humility and conversion.
The exhortation, made public on October 9, 2025, draws heavily from the teachings of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who began drafting it. Pope Leo describes it as an “inheritance,” emphasizing continuity in the Church’s social doctrine.
At its core, Dilexi Te reframes poverty as a theological imperative. Pope Leo states that the poor are “the very ‘flesh’ of Christ,” and calls on the Church to give them a “privileged place” to remain faithful to its founder.
The document traces the Church’s tradition of prioritizing the poor, from Old Testament prophets to the early Christians, Church Fathers, and modern saints. It commends religious orders for their historical roles in providing healthcare, education, and shelter.
Pope Leo addresses contemporary challenges, noting that poverty now appears in new forms like incarceration, exploitation, and environmental degradation. He denounces views that poverty is solely a government issue or that market forces alone will solve it.
A key emphasis is on the spiritual needs of the poor, which are often overlooked. The Pope warns that “the worst discrimination which the poor suffer is the lack of spiritual care,” and calls for religious care alongside material aid.
The exhortation critiques “structures of sin” that perpetuate inequality and advocates for policies addressing root causes like lack of work and housing. It also praises popular movements led by the poor themselves.
Pope Leo defends almsgiving, which he says has “fallen out of fashion.” He asserts that even modest almsgiving introduces piety into a society focused on personal gain.
Reactions from within the Church have been largely positive, with theologians noting its alignment with Vatican II. However, some conservative voices expressed concern over its strong social justice tone.
This release comes amid global economic uncertainties, with rising inequality highlighted in recent reports from organizations like the United Nations. Pope Leo’s exhortation positions the Church as a moral force in these debates, urging a shift from indifference to solidarity.
As Pope Leo concluded, he emphasized that “our love and deepest convictions need to be continually cultivated” through concrete actions. He warned that remaining in the realm of ideas causes our hopes to fade; for this reason, Christians must not abandon almsgiving. “It is always better to do something rather than nothing,” he concluded.
Read the full text of Pope Leo’s Apostolic Exhortation ‘Dilexi te’ by clicking here. https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/apost_exhortations/documents/20251004-dilexi-te.html
