Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi Te (2025) emphasizes the inseparable link between Christian faith and love for the poor. Issued at the start of his pontificate, the document continues the vision of Pope Francis’ Dilexit Nos, urging all Christians to recognize Christ in the poor and to live out compassion through concrete acts of charity and justice. Leo XIV highlights that genuine discipleship requires attention to the marginalized, echoing Christ’s command that “whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.”
The exhortation traces the Church’s enduring mission to serve the poor, from the example of Saint Francis of Assisi to modern saints like Teresa of Calcutta. It challenges both Church and society to reject indifference, confront structural inequality, and promote a culture of solidarity. By calling believers to see the face of Christ in the suffering and forgotten, Dilexi Te stands as a moral appeal for renewed compassion, social conversion, and authentic Christian witness in an age of growing inequality.
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