Pope Leo XIV has released the first major document of his pontificate, urging Christians around the world to speak out against the systems and social structures that deepen poverty and human suffering.
The document, titled Dilexi te (“I Have Loved You”), was signed at the Vatican on October 4 and continues the legacy of Pope Francis by focusing on Christian responsibility toward the poor. It is an Apostolic Exhortation, a formal papal letter that offers spiritual and moral guidance to the entire Church.
“I share the desire of my beloved predecessor that all Christians come to appreciate the close connection between Christ’s love and his summons to care for the poor,” Pope Leo wrote in his introduction.
In Dilexi te, Pope Leo addresses issues such as economic inequality, access to education, migrant rights, and the global “throwaway culture” that treats human lives as disposable. He emphasized that Christians must not remain silent in the face of injustice, calling for “voices that defend the dignity of every person.”
The head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, presented the document at a press briefing, noting that Pope Leo’s vision connects the care of the poor directly with the pursuit of peace.
“There will be no peace as long as the poor and the planet are neglected and mistreated,” Czerny said.
“Treating the poor with dignity is the first act of peace.”
The release of Dilexi te coincided with a U.S. government shutdown, as political leaders struggled to agree on healthcare funding and tax credits for low-income citizens. Pope Leo’s appeal for compassion and justice resonated strongly amid such global divisions and inequality.
The pontiff has also shown consistent concern for migrants and the marginalized. Just days before the exhortation’s release, he met with Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, outgoing chairman of the U.S. bishops’ migration committee, reaffirming his support for humanitarian work along the U.S.–Mexico border.
“Only a society that places the marginalized at its center can be truly peaceful,” the pope declared through his spokesman.
Comment here