Dilexi te

Pope Leo’s first Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi Te (“I have loved you”), issued on October 9, calls all Christians to live a love that is both contemplative and active.

Join the observance on November 16, 2025, as the Mother Church celebrates the 9th World Day of the Poor, a powerful call to action from Pope Leo. Launched in 2017 through the Apostolic Letter Misericordia et Misera, this special day aims to shed light on the many faces of poverty.

Then I saw the title: Dilexi Te, “I Have Loved You.” Instantly, it felt different. This wasn’t just another official Church document. It felt personal, a letter written with love, shaped by the hearts of two Popes.

Pope Leo XIV has released his Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te (“I Have Loved You”), a profound call to the Church to renew its love for the poor as a central expression of Christian faith.