When Pope Leo XIV, then Robert Francis Prevost, was elected in May 2025, the Christian world watched with anticipation. Within months, his first apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te (“I have loved you”), set a tone that would echo throughout his first year as pope. More than a theological document, the exhortation revealed a pastoral heart deeply attuned to the pains and hopes of humanity. In this article, we reflect on how this first year has been marked by a faith that openly dialogues with the world’s wounds, inspiring Christians of all traditions to live out love in action.
The Exhortation Dilexi Te: Love for the Poor as the Central Axis
The Latin title, Dilexi Te, taken from Psalm 18 (or 17 in the Vulgate), expresses a personal and intimate declaration of love. In the exhortation, Pope Leo XIV applies this declaration to God’s relationship with the poor and marginalized. The document is not merely a letter of principles; it is an invitation for the Church to stand alongside those who suffer, recognizing in them the face of Christ.
Bishop Vicente de Paula Ferreira of Livramento de Nossa Senhora (Bahia) highlighted that the exhortation shows “particular attention to the vulnerabilities of our time.” Peace, the first word spoken by the Pontiff after his election, converges with this axis. The recurrence of the themes of poverty and peace reveals not just a social concern, but a fundamental law of the Gospel: love that translates into service.
What Dilexi Te Teaches Us About the Papacy
The exhortation is not an isolated document. It signals a direction: the Church is called to be a healing community that does not flee from the world’s wounds but embraces them with compassion. Pope Leo XIV, known for his pastoral work in underserved communities, brings that experience to the center of his teaching.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3, NIV)
This familiar verse gains new depth when we read Dilexi Te. The Pope reminds us that poverty is not only material but also spiritual—and that we are all in need of God’s love.
Faith in Dialogue with the World’s Wounds
Pope Leo XIV’s first year has been marked by concrete gestures of dialogue with the painful realities of our time. From armed conflicts to migration crises and economic inequality, the Pope has used his voice to cry out for justice and reconciliation.
In September 2025, during a visit to a refugee camp on the Poland-Ukraine border, he declared: “Faith does not remove us from suffering; it enables us to enter it with hope.” These words resonated strongly in a world weary of war and division.
The Church’s Role in Social Healing
Dilexi Te challenges us to think: how can we, as the body of Christ, be agents of healing? The Pope suggests that the Church should be a place where wounds are exposed to the light of God’s love, not hidden. This means listening to those who suffer, defending the oppressed, and working for peace.
Auxiliary Bishop João Carlos of São Paulo commented in a recent interview: “The Pope shows us that theology cannot be divorced from real life. The exhortation is a call to step out of our comfort zones and encounter the suffering Christ in the poor.”
Biblical Reflections for Our Time
The Bible is filled with passages that echo the theme of Dilexi Te. In Isaiah 61, the prophet announces: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor” (Isaiah 61:1, NIV). Jesus picks up this passage in Luke 4, declaring that it is fulfilled in him.
Pope Leo XIV invites us to see that same anointing on the Church today. We are called to be bearers of good news, to heal broken hearts, and to proclaim freedom to captives. In a world marked by division and pain, Dilexi Te reminds us that God’s love is the only force capable of transforming wounds into hope.
May this first year of the papacy inspire all of us, regardless of our Christian tradition, to live with greater compassion and to be instruments of Christ’s peace.
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