Pope Leo XIV has issued his first Apostolic Exhortation, “Dilexi Te” (I Have Loved You), emphasizing the Church’s preferential option for the poor and vulnerable, signed on October 4, 2025, and released on October 9, 2025, as a call to the global Church to renew its commitment to serving the marginalised and promoting justice and compassion.
Drawing on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Pope Leo XIV urges Christians to encounter Christ in the poor and to serve them with radical love and charity.
‘The poor are not just recipients of our charity, but also our teachers and our guides,’ the Pope writes.
‘In serving the poor, we encounter Christ himself, and we are reminded of the depth of God’s love for humanity.’
The Apostolic Exhortation is grounded in the principles of Ignatian spirituality, emphasizing the importance of discernment, contemplation, and action in the service of faith and justice.
Pope Leo XIV calls on all Catholics to reflect on their relationship with the poor and vulnerable, and to seek ways to serve them more effectively.
“Dilexi Te” is a timely reminder of the Church’s mission to serve the poor and vulnerable, and a call to all Catholics to recommit themselves to this vital work. As Pope Leo XIV writes,
‘The Church’s option for the poor is not optional; it is an essential part of our identity as Christians.
The Apostolic Exhortation is expected to inspire a renewed commitment to service and justice among Catholics worldwide, and to promote greater awareness of the needs of the poor and vulnerable.
In the Ignatian Spirituality, Pope Leo XIV’s “Dilexi Te” is a call to action, urging all Catholics to:
– Seek God in all things, especially in the faces of the poor and vulnerable
– Serve with radical love, encountering Christ in those who are marginalized and oppressed
– Promote justice and compassion, working to address the systemic structures that perpetuate poverty and inequality
– Reflect and act, discerning ways to serve the poor more effectively and to promote greater justice and peace in the world.
As the Church embarks on this journey of service and compassion, the Holy See hopes that “Dilexi Te” will inspire a new wave of commitment to the poor and vulnerable, and that all Catholics will be moved to serve with greater love and generosity.
“Dilexi Te” builds on the themes of “Dilexit Nos” by the late Pope Francis, emphasizing the connection between Christ’s love and care for the poor. Both documents highlight the importance of loving the poor and marginalised, and both popes stress that this love is not optional but essential to Christian faith.
“Dilexi Te” specifically explores the relationship between God’s love and love for the poor, echoing Pope Francis’ emphasis on the preferential option for the poor.
By linking his document to “Dilexit Nos”, Pope Leo XIV underscores his commitment to continuing Pope Francis’ legacy and the Church’s mission to serve the poor and vulnerable.
The document comes shortly after the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Catholic Commission for Justice (CCJP), Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, which shares the same vision of promoting human dignity.
The MoU aligns with Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Exhortation “Dilexi Te,” which emphasizes the Church’s preferential option for the poor and vulnerable. The partnership between CCJPZ and ZHRC reflects this vision, as both organizations work together to promote human rights, justice, and peace in Zimbabwe.
By Tadiwa Madava
English