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Exortação apostólica Dilexi Te do santo padre Leão XIV sobre o amor para com os pobres
A declaração de amor do Apocalipse remete para o mistério insondável que foi aprofundado pelo Papa Francisco na Encíclica Dilexit nos sobre o amor humano e divino do Coração de Jesus. Nela, admirámos o modo como Jesus se identifica «com os últimos da sociedade» e como, através do seu amor doado até ao fim, mostra a dignidade de cada ser humano, sobretudo quando é «mais fraco, mísero e sofredor». Contemplar o amor de Cristo «ajuda-nos a prestar mais atenção ao sofrimento e às necessidades dos outros, e torna-nos suficientemente fortes para participar na sua obra de libertação, como instrumentos de difusão do seu amor».
Por esta razão, em continuidade com a Encíclica Dilexit nos, o Papa Francisco, nos últimos meses da sua vida, estava a preparar uma Exortação Apostólica sobre o cuidado da Igreja pelos pobres e com os pobres, intitulada Dilexi te, imaginando Cristo a dirigir-se a cada um deles Tens pouca força, pouco poder, mas «Eu te amei» ( Ap 3, 9). Ao receber como herança este projeto, sinto-me feliz ao assumi-lo como meu – acrescentando algumas reflexões – e ao apresentá-lo no início do meu pontificado, partilhando o desejo do meu amado Predecessor de que todos os cristãos possam perceber a forte ligação existente entre o amor de Cristo e o seu chamamento a tornarmo-nos próximos dos pobres. Na verdade, também eu considero necessário insistir neste caminho de santificação, porque no «apelo a reconhecê-Lo nos pobres e atribulados, revela-se o próprio coração de Cristo, os seus sentimentos e as suas opções mais profundas, com os quais se procura configurar todo o santo».
Por esta razão, em continuidade com a Encíclica Dilexit nos, o Papa Francisco, nos últimos meses da sua vida, estava a preparar uma Exortação Apostólica sobre o cuidado da Igreja pelos pobres e com os pobres, intitulada Dilexi te, imaginando Cristo a dirigir-se a cada um deles Tens pouca força, pouco poder, mas «Eu te amei» ( Ap 3, 9). Ao receber como herança este projeto, sinto-me feliz ao assumi-lo como meu – acrescentando algumas reflexões – e ao apresentá-lo no início do meu pontificado, partilhando o desejo do meu amado Predecessor de que todos os cristãos possam perceber a forte ligação existente entre o amor de Cristo e o seu chamamento a tornarmo-nos próximos dos pobres. Na verdade, também eu considero necessário insistir neste caminho de santificação, porque no «apelo a reconhecê-Lo nos pobres e atribulados, revela-se o próprio coração de Cristo, os seus sentimentos e as suas opções mais profundas, com os quais se procura configurar todo o santo».
70 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2025
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About the author
Pope Leo XIV
13 books27 followersThe first Augustinian Pope, Leo XIV is the second Roman Pontiff - after Pope Francis - from the Americas. Unlike Jorge Mario Bergoglio, however, the former Robert Francis Prevost is from the northern part of the continent, though he spent many years as a missionary in Peru before being elected head of the Augustinians for two consecutive terms. In Peru, he served as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015-2023. He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023 and was elected to the papacy after Francis' death on May 8, 2025. His papal name, Leo, was chosen in honor of Pope Leo XIII.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
October 25, 2025
This apostolic exhortation is a perfect baton pass between Francis and Leo’s pontificates. An extended meditation on the concreteness of Christ’s love for the world that is found chiefly in love and care for and with the poor. Love for the poor, Francis and Leo insist, is not just a function of human kindness but is in fact proper to a doctrine of revelation of a God who is Love all the way down. “This is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, he continues to speak to us.”
This document is a truly evangelical gospel all the way through, by which I mean it is truly GOOD news. The Love of God has a concrete object - the poor. The God who has always been an electing God has chosen to be always on the side of the poor and the oppressed. This is the concrete and objective ethical and political content of the declaration of faith that God is Love. As Leo concludes, “A Church that sets no limits to love, that knows no enemies to fight but only men and women to love, is the Church that the world needs today.” Amen and Amen.
This document is a truly evangelical gospel all the way through, by which I mean it is truly GOOD news. The Love of God has a concrete object - the poor. The God who has always been an electing God has chosen to be always on the side of the poor and the oppressed. This is the concrete and objective ethical and political content of the declaration of faith that God is Love. As Leo concludes, “A Church that sets no limits to love, that knows no enemies to fight but only men and women to love, is the Church that the world needs today.” Amen and Amen.
October 15, 2025
Un anuncio valiente, primer texto de León XIV
January 4, 2026
A quote from „Dilexit te” which stood out to me and is a good summary of the exhortation:
‚Saint Gregory the Great has much to tell us: "Let no one consider himself secure, saying, I do not steal from others, but simply enjoy what is rightfully mine.' The rich man was not punished because he took what belonged to others, but because, while possessing such great riches, he had become impoverished within. This was indeed the reason for his condemnation to hell: in his prosperity, he preserved no sense of justice; the wealth he had received made him proud and caused him to lose all sense of compassion.".’
‚Saint Gregory the Great has much to tell us: "Let no one consider himself secure, saying, I do not steal from others, but simply enjoy what is rightfully mine.' The rich man was not punished because he took what belonged to others, but because, while possessing such great riches, he had become impoverished within. This was indeed the reason for his condemnation to hell: in his prosperity, he preserved no sense of justice; the wealth he had received made him proud and caused him to lose all sense of compassion.".’
October 10, 2025
Pope Leo’s first “Apostolic Exhortation” was a real joy to read. My only complaint is we keep using these crazy latin titles for these things- I particularly like the translation of this one- “I have loved you.”- a quote meant to inspire the early Christians suffering persecution in Rome, now turned to those suffering poverty and injustice today. I think once it becomes more widely read and processed, it’s going to become the motivator for a lot of good movement in the Church.
I think it’s best summed up by its concluding line:
“Through your work, your efforts to change unjust social structures or your simple, heartfelt gesture of closeness and support, the poor will come to realize that Jesus’ words are addressed personally to each of them: ‘I have loved you’”
I think it’s best summed up by its concluding line:
“Through your work, your efforts to change unjust social structures or your simple, heartfelt gesture of closeness and support, the poor will come to realize that Jesus’ words are addressed personally to each of them: ‘I have loved you’”
October 22, 2025
ESPAÑOL: Excelente revisión de la opción preferencial de Dios y la Iglesia por los pobres, con muchas consecuencias para nuestro comportamiento personal.
ENGLISH: An excellent revision of God's and the Church's preferential option for the poor, with many consequences for our personal behavior.
ENGLISH: An excellent revision of God's and the Church's preferential option for the poor, with many consequences for our personal behavior.
November 6, 2025
O Papa Leão XIV continuou o trabalho de redação do Papa Francisco sobre o amor para com os pobres, numa Exortação que, tomando a realidade dos nossos dias, apela à reflexão e à ação no mundo.
A Exortação encontra-se dividida em cinco capítulos e, diria, em duas partes essenciais: por um lado, lembra-se que Deus escolhe os pobres que são a maior riqueza da Igreja e, por outro lado, fazendo um percurso histórico, somos recordados dos desafios atualíssimos que sobre nós impendem nesta matéria.
Em relação à primeira parte é tocante a forma como somos lembrados que Cristo é pobre (nasceu numa manjedoura), Cristo vive de trabalho manual (hierarquicamente na sociedade, ocupa uma posição inferior à dos agricultores e, por isso, é lhe permitido respigar os campos – Mc 2, 23-28, p. 20), Cristo é imigrante (os seus pais fugiram para o Egito para que o Menino sobrevivesse à perseguição de Herodes).
No caminho entre ambas as partes, verificamos o papel dos pobres na Bíblia e somos recordados da Parábola do Bom Samaritano (objeto maior da Encíclica “Todos Irmãos” do Papa Francisco). Também nos damos conta da caridade cristã nas primeiras comunidades e no maior tesouro que a Igreja possuía. A esse propósito, somos recordados do serviço de São Lourenço que, instado pelas autoridades romanas a entregar tal tesouro, leva, no dia seguinte, os pobres (p. 35). O papel no cuidado pode assumir, como nos é exemplificado por vários santos, diversos objetos: cuidado dos doentes, cuidado dos presos, a preparação na educação, a dedicação monástica, as formas de atuação perante escravidões modernas (tráfico de pessoas, trabalhos forçados, exploração sexual, dependências), o cuidado dos migrantes (até porque todos somos migrantes e essa é a génese do Povo de Deus, desde a migração de Abraão, de Moisés, de Maria, José e Jesus). Numa palavra: o cuidado a todos os habitantes das periferias existenciais (p. 65).
Numa perspetiva cristocêntrica (que não é apenas social), somos recordados que cada doente, encarcerado, “em cada migrante rejeitado, é o próprio Cristo que bate às portas da Comunidade” (p. 65).
Por isso, surge-nos uma reflexão concreta que é a dos dias de hoje e que garante continuidade na tradição da Doutrina Social da Igreja, desde a “Rerum Novarum” de Leão XIII. A este propósito, não posso deixar de destacar três passagens impressivas:
«14. Os pobres não existem por acaso ou por um cego e amargo destino. Muito menos a pobreza é uma escolha, para a maioria deles. No entanto, ainda há quem ouse afirmá-lo, demonstrando cegueira e crueldade. Entre os pobres há também, obviamente, aqueles que não querem trabalhar, talvez porque os seus antepassados, que trabalharam toda a vida, morreram pobres. Mas há muitos homens e mulheres que trabalham de manhã à noite, recolhendo papelão, por exemplo, ou realizando outras atividades semelhantes, embora saibam que este esforço servirá apenas para sobreviver e nunca para melhorar verdadeiramente as suas vidas. Não podemos dizer que a maioria dos pobres estão nessa situação porque não obtiveram “méritos”, de acordo com a falsa visão da meritocracia, segundo a qual parece que só têm mérito aqueles que tiveram sucesso na vida.» (p. 17)
«92. “(…)Tal desequilíbrio provém de ideologias que defendem a autonomia absoluta dos mercados e a especulação financeira. Por isso, negam o direito de controle dos Estados, encarregados de velar pela tutela do bem comum. Instaura-se uma nova tirania invisível, às vezes virtual, que impõe, de forma unilateral e implacável, as suas leis e as suas regras”. [94] Embora não faltem diversas teorias que tentam justificar o estado atual das coisas ou explicar que a racionalidade económica nos exige esperar que as forças invisíveis do mercado resolvam tudo, a dignidade de cada pessoa humana deve ser respeitada já agora, não só amanhã, e a situação de miséria de tantas pessoas, a quem é negada esta dignidade, deve ser um apelo constante à nossa consciência.» (p. 82)
«95. Acontece que «no modelo “do êxito” e “individualista” em vigor, parece que não faz sentido investir para que os lentos, fracos ou menos dotados possam também singrar na vida». [100] A pergunta que reiteradamente surge é sempre a mesma: os menos dotados não são seres humanos? Os mais fracos não têm a nossa mesma dignidade? Aqueles que nasceram com menos possibilidades valem menos como seres humanos e devem limitar-se apenas a sobreviver? A resposta que damos a estas perguntas determina o valor das nossas sociedades e dela também depende o nosso futuro: ou reconquistamos a nossa dignidade moral e espiritual ou caímos numa espécie de poço de imundície. Se não pararmos a pensar as coisas a sério, continuaremos, de forma explícita ou dissimulada, a «legitimar o modelo distributivo atual, no qual uma minoria se julga com o direito de consumir numa proporção que seria impossível generalizar, porque o planeta não poderia sequer conter os resíduos de tal consumo». [101]» (p.82)
Por fim, o Papa exorta todos à atuação, não apenas numa esfera priva (p. 101), redunde apenas em temas sociais, críticas a Governos, em discursos vazios, mas em ação, quer através do trabalho, quer em empenho em mudar estruturas sociais injustas, que num gesto de ajuda simples (p. 106).
O texto integral da Exortação está disponível em: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xi... .
A Exortação encontra-se dividida em cinco capítulos e, diria, em duas partes essenciais: por um lado, lembra-se que Deus escolhe os pobres que são a maior riqueza da Igreja e, por outro lado, fazendo um percurso histórico, somos recordados dos desafios atualíssimos que sobre nós impendem nesta matéria.
Em relação à primeira parte é tocante a forma como somos lembrados que Cristo é pobre (nasceu numa manjedoura), Cristo vive de trabalho manual (hierarquicamente na sociedade, ocupa uma posição inferior à dos agricultores e, por isso, é lhe permitido respigar os campos – Mc 2, 23-28, p. 20), Cristo é imigrante (os seus pais fugiram para o Egito para que o Menino sobrevivesse à perseguição de Herodes).
No caminho entre ambas as partes, verificamos o papel dos pobres na Bíblia e somos recordados da Parábola do Bom Samaritano (objeto maior da Encíclica “Todos Irmãos” do Papa Francisco). Também nos damos conta da caridade cristã nas primeiras comunidades e no maior tesouro que a Igreja possuía. A esse propósito, somos recordados do serviço de São Lourenço que, instado pelas autoridades romanas a entregar tal tesouro, leva, no dia seguinte, os pobres (p. 35). O papel no cuidado pode assumir, como nos é exemplificado por vários santos, diversos objetos: cuidado dos doentes, cuidado dos presos, a preparação na educação, a dedicação monástica, as formas de atuação perante escravidões modernas (tráfico de pessoas, trabalhos forçados, exploração sexual, dependências), o cuidado dos migrantes (até porque todos somos migrantes e essa é a génese do Povo de Deus, desde a migração de Abraão, de Moisés, de Maria, José e Jesus). Numa palavra: o cuidado a todos os habitantes das periferias existenciais (p. 65).
Numa perspetiva cristocêntrica (que não é apenas social), somos recordados que cada doente, encarcerado, “em cada migrante rejeitado, é o próprio Cristo que bate às portas da Comunidade” (p. 65).
Por isso, surge-nos uma reflexão concreta que é a dos dias de hoje e que garante continuidade na tradição da Doutrina Social da Igreja, desde a “Rerum Novarum” de Leão XIII. A este propósito, não posso deixar de destacar três passagens impressivas:
«14. Os pobres não existem por acaso ou por um cego e amargo destino. Muito menos a pobreza é uma escolha, para a maioria deles. No entanto, ainda há quem ouse afirmá-lo, demonstrando cegueira e crueldade. Entre os pobres há também, obviamente, aqueles que não querem trabalhar, talvez porque os seus antepassados, que trabalharam toda a vida, morreram pobres. Mas há muitos homens e mulheres que trabalham de manhã à noite, recolhendo papelão, por exemplo, ou realizando outras atividades semelhantes, embora saibam que este esforço servirá apenas para sobreviver e nunca para melhorar verdadeiramente as suas vidas. Não podemos dizer que a maioria dos pobres estão nessa situação porque não obtiveram “méritos”, de acordo com a falsa visão da meritocracia, segundo a qual parece que só têm mérito aqueles que tiveram sucesso na vida.» (p. 17)
«92. “(…)Tal desequilíbrio provém de ideologias que defendem a autonomia absoluta dos mercados e a especulação financeira. Por isso, negam o direito de controle dos Estados, encarregados de velar pela tutela do bem comum. Instaura-se uma nova tirania invisível, às vezes virtual, que impõe, de forma unilateral e implacável, as suas leis e as suas regras”. [94] Embora não faltem diversas teorias que tentam justificar o estado atual das coisas ou explicar que a racionalidade económica nos exige esperar que as forças invisíveis do mercado resolvam tudo, a dignidade de cada pessoa humana deve ser respeitada já agora, não só amanhã, e a situação de miséria de tantas pessoas, a quem é negada esta dignidade, deve ser um apelo constante à nossa consciência.» (p. 82)
«95. Acontece que «no modelo “do êxito” e “individualista” em vigor, parece que não faz sentido investir para que os lentos, fracos ou menos dotados possam também singrar na vida». [100] A pergunta que reiteradamente surge é sempre a mesma: os menos dotados não são seres humanos? Os mais fracos não têm a nossa mesma dignidade? Aqueles que nasceram com menos possibilidades valem menos como seres humanos e devem limitar-se apenas a sobreviver? A resposta que damos a estas perguntas determina o valor das nossas sociedades e dela também depende o nosso futuro: ou reconquistamos a nossa dignidade moral e espiritual ou caímos numa espécie de poço de imundície. Se não pararmos a pensar as coisas a sério, continuaremos, de forma explícita ou dissimulada, a «legitimar o modelo distributivo atual, no qual uma minoria se julga com o direito de consumir numa proporção que seria impossível generalizar, porque o planeta não poderia sequer conter os resíduos de tal consumo». [101]» (p.82)
Por fim, o Papa exorta todos à atuação, não apenas numa esfera priva (p. 101), redunde apenas em temas sociais, críticas a Governos, em discursos vazios, mas em ação, quer através do trabalho, quer em empenho em mudar estruturas sociais injustas, que num gesto de ajuda simples (p. 106).
O texto integral da Exortação está disponível em: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xi... .
October 21, 2025
This was a first for me -reading an apostolic exhortation. I figured I'd give it a go, thinking it was going to be a few pages or so, only to find out it was 120 pages. Since it's basically the length of a book, I figured I'd write a review on Goodreads because, why not? I'm sure I won't get everything in my review perfect but after watching a few YouTube reviews on Dilexi te, I wanted to stick in a few points that were mentioned. Apparently, it is fairly common for an incoming pope to inherit and complete an unfinished encyclical from a prior pope. Encyclicals are formal teaching letters discussing new topics or issues being addressed by the papacy. Pope Leo XIV, after completing it, actually changed the document to an apostolic exhortation, which is more akin to an educational meditation for the Catholic Church that reinforces our call to love and care for the poor. Dilexi te meaning 'I have loved you'. The document is comprised of five chapters covering
1. an introduction to the topic -our duty to care for the poor by helping, serving, advocating, welcoming, caring, listening, and teaching. Love of God is intricately connected with love of the poor. We encounter God in service of the poor.
2. a reminder that spreading the word of God does not supersede serving the poor. Jesus chose to enter into the life of the poor TO bring the good news to the poor. The poor are not just a small faction that you can get too after you have served the rest of the congregation, whenever you get around to it. Or leaving service to the poor to those parishioners who choose this as their particular ministry. We are ALL called to extend ourselves to the poor.
3. a detailed history of the many priests, nuns, brothers, etc. who have served the poor in various ways over the centuries -providing education, healthcare, hospitality, freeing/visiting prisoners, to providing food, shelter, clothing, and financial assistance to the needy.
4. reinforcing the church's social doctrine on respecting the dignity of the poor and the church's commitment to fixing social structures that lead to poverty.
5. discussion on challenges of caring for the poor and the variety of ways one CAN serve the poor- feeding and clothing ministries, sharing faith, emotional support of the mentally ill and addicted, education assistance, health and wellness support, financial assistance, assisting migrants and refugees, prison ministry.
The exhortation reaffirms the Christian imperative to care for the poor AS VITAL, it is an INTREGAL part living a liturgical life, not an afterthought. The pope rebukes those who greedily accumulate and hoard wealth. The laity should consider themselves as stewards of treasure, not owners.
As a 120 page read, it is over long, and overly wordy. This could totally be less than half the length. But as a meditation, the topic is spot on and well covered. I know I am not alone in failing to prioritize care for the poor at the same level I prioritize going to mass or praying. I absolutely figure that 'other parishioners' are handling the food pantry or volunteering to 'feed the homeless' when opportunities come up. At the same time, the document does recognize that there are those 'poor in spirit (emotionally) or faith (spiritually)' and ministries that serve these parishioners ARE serving the poor, too. Do not overlook the small gestures you do that serve the poor -when you give a pan handler some money or a kind word, you visit an elderly person in a nursing home, or visit someone in a mental hospital, or prison, when you drive someone who doesn't have access to transportation. Being mindful of our call to REGULARLY care for the poor is definitely worthy of a lengthy discussion.
1. an introduction to the topic -our duty to care for the poor by helping, serving, advocating, welcoming, caring, listening, and teaching. Love of God is intricately connected with love of the poor. We encounter God in service of the poor.
2. a reminder that spreading the word of God does not supersede serving the poor. Jesus chose to enter into the life of the poor TO bring the good news to the poor. The poor are not just a small faction that you can get too after you have served the rest of the congregation, whenever you get around to it. Or leaving service to the poor to those parishioners who choose this as their particular ministry. We are ALL called to extend ourselves to the poor.
3. a detailed history of the many priests, nuns, brothers, etc. who have served the poor in various ways over the centuries -providing education, healthcare, hospitality, freeing/visiting prisoners, to providing food, shelter, clothing, and financial assistance to the needy.
4. reinforcing the church's social doctrine on respecting the dignity of the poor and the church's commitment to fixing social structures that lead to poverty.
5. discussion on challenges of caring for the poor and the variety of ways one CAN serve the poor- feeding and clothing ministries, sharing faith, emotional support of the mentally ill and addicted, education assistance, health and wellness support, financial assistance, assisting migrants and refugees, prison ministry.
The exhortation reaffirms the Christian imperative to care for the poor AS VITAL, it is an INTREGAL part living a liturgical life, not an afterthought. The pope rebukes those who greedily accumulate and hoard wealth. The laity should consider themselves as stewards of treasure, not owners.
As a 120 page read, it is over long, and overly wordy. This could totally be less than half the length. But as a meditation, the topic is spot on and well covered. I know I am not alone in failing to prioritize care for the poor at the same level I prioritize going to mass or praying. I absolutely figure that 'other parishioners' are handling the food pantry or volunteering to 'feed the homeless' when opportunities come up. At the same time, the document does recognize that there are those 'poor in spirit (emotionally) or faith (spiritually)' and ministries that serve these parishioners ARE serving the poor, too. Do not overlook the small gestures you do that serve the poor -when you give a pan handler some money or a kind word, you visit an elderly person in a nursing home, or visit someone in a mental hospital, or prison, when you drive someone who doesn't have access to transportation. Being mindful of our call to REGULARLY care for the poor is definitely worthy of a lengthy discussion.
October 31, 2025
It was my first time reading a longer work from a Pope and I enjoyed it and was challenged by it. It's separated into 5 short chapters, each of which is separated into smaller paragraphs, of which there are 121 in total. This made the pacing of reading easy.
The exhortation talks about the necessity of a Church that is for the poor and with the poor, articulating this theme by showing it is a centrality in both the Bible and Tradition. It tells us to not simply treat the poor as objects of charity, but subjects of dignity and value - in whom, and with whom, God can be encountered. It highlights love for the poor as concrete acts of faith, which is an evangelical light to the world around us.
I found these 2 quotes to be personally challenging:
“Let no one consider himself secure, saying, ‘I do not steal from others, but simply enjoy what is rightfully mine.’ The rich man was not punished because he took what belonged to others, but because, while possessing such great riches, he had become impoverished within." Pope Leo quoting St Gregory.
"Our love and our deepest convictions need to be continually cultivated, and we do so through our concrete actions. Remaining in the realm of ideas and theories, while failing to give them expression through frequent and practical acts of charity, will eventually cause even our most cherished hopes and aspirations to weaken and fade away. For this very reason, we Christians must not abandon almsgiving. It can be done in different ways, and surely more effectively, but it must continue to be done."
The exhortation talks about the necessity of a Church that is for the poor and with the poor, articulating this theme by showing it is a centrality in both the Bible and Tradition. It tells us to not simply treat the poor as objects of charity, but subjects of dignity and value - in whom, and with whom, God can be encountered. It highlights love for the poor as concrete acts of faith, which is an evangelical light to the world around us.
I found these 2 quotes to be personally challenging:
“Let no one consider himself secure, saying, ‘I do not steal from others, but simply enjoy what is rightfully mine.’ The rich man was not punished because he took what belonged to others, but because, while possessing such great riches, he had become impoverished within." Pope Leo quoting St Gregory.
"Our love and our deepest convictions need to be continually cultivated, and we do so through our concrete actions. Remaining in the realm of ideas and theories, while failing to give them expression through frequent and practical acts of charity, will eventually cause even our most cherished hopes and aspirations to weaken and fade away. For this very reason, we Christians must not abandon almsgiving. It can be done in different ways, and surely more effectively, but it must continue to be done."
October 21, 2025
Excited for everyone who was randomly clamoring for Pope Leo to write something in the first week of his papacy to report back that they read every word of this and got absolutely lit up.
This exhortation is the real tea, and it’s hard (for me) to swallow if taken seriously.
“God shows a preference for the poor: the Lord’s words of hope and liberation are addressed first of all to them…And the Church, if she wants to be Christ’s Church, must be a Church of the Beatitudes, one that makes room for the little ones and walks poor with the poor, a place where the poor have a privileged place” (#21).
This exhortation is the real tea, and it’s hard (for me) to swallow if taken seriously.
“God shows a preference for the poor: the Lord’s words of hope and liberation are addressed first of all to them…And the Church, if she wants to be Christ’s Church, must be a Church of the Beatitudes, one that makes room for the little ones and walks poor with the poor, a place where the poor have a privileged place” (#21).
January 18, 2026
What a crossover episode! Two popes and tons of saints named and quoted. Love the poor, got it Leo 🫡
October 13, 2025
Buen debut de Robert!
Está MUY buena. Me hizo pensar y reflexionar mucho sobre cuánto y cómo vivo (y vivimos como Iglesia) esta cercanía con los pobres, marginados, migrantes. Me falta (y me atrevo a decir que NOS) falta mucho en este tema como Iglesia.
Me hubiera gustado que mencionara más sobre la propia pobreza.
Emocionante leer sobre las órdenes mendicantes.
Leer esto me recordó mucho a la raza de Christ in the City.
“No estamos en el horizonte de la beneficencia, sino de la Revelación; el contacto con quien no tiene poder ni grandeza es un modo fundamental de encuentro con el Señor de la historia. En los pobres Él sigue teniendo algo que decirnos.”
“«Si alguien vive en la abundancia, y viendo a su hermano en la necesidad, le cierra su corazón, ¿cómo permanecerá en él el amor de Dios?» (1 Jn 3,17).”
“servir a los pobres no es un gesto de arriba hacia abajo, sino un encuentro entre iguales, donde Cristo se revela y es adorado.”
“La realidad es que los pobres para los cristianos no son una categoría sociológica, sino la misma carne de Cristo.”
Está MUY buena. Me hizo pensar y reflexionar mucho sobre cuánto y cómo vivo (y vivimos como Iglesia) esta cercanía con los pobres, marginados, migrantes. Me falta (y me atrevo a decir que NOS) falta mucho en este tema como Iglesia.
Me hubiera gustado que mencionara más sobre la propia pobreza.
Emocionante leer sobre las órdenes mendicantes.
Leer esto me recordó mucho a la raza de Christ in the City.
“No estamos en el horizonte de la beneficencia, sino de la Revelación; el contacto con quien no tiene poder ni grandeza es un modo fundamental de encuentro con el Señor de la historia. En los pobres Él sigue teniendo algo que decirnos.”
“«Si alguien vive en la abundancia, y viendo a su hermano en la necesidad, le cierra su corazón, ¿cómo permanecerá en él el amor de Dios?» (1 Jn 3,17).”
“servir a los pobres no es un gesto de arriba hacia abajo, sino un encuentro entre iguales, donde Cristo se revela y es adorado.”
“La realidad es que los pobres para los cristianos no son una categoría sociológica, sino la misma carne de Cristo.”
January 25, 2026
This encyclical by Pope Leo XIV resonated deeply with me. It is a compelling call to charity that reaches beyond material poverty to include social, educational, and spiritual need. It speaks directly to the realities of the 2020s, reminding readers that care for the poor is inseparable from authentic Christian life. I would recommend this profound and timely document to everyone.
October 15, 2025
A challenging document; refreshing in its Gospel simplicity.
A great summary here by Br. Darius: https://youtu.be/uK75FQKsBDg?list=PL7...
A great summary here by Br. Darius: https://youtu.be/uK75FQKsBDg?list=PL7...
December 28, 2025
Truly a phenomenal first exhortation from Leo XIV. If you're wanting to read more on how to love the poor and God's preferential option for the poor this would be a great start. Short. Punchy. Filled with quotes from the Great Tradition that are heart-wrenching. 5.104-106 has an unclear doctrine of conversion.
Notable quotes:
"This is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, he continues to speak to us" (1.6).
"Wealth has increased, but so together with inequality, with the result that 'new forms of poverty are emerging.' The claim that the modern world has reduced poverty is made by measuring poverty with criteria from the past that do not correspond to present-day realities" (1.13).
"The fact that some dismiss or ridicule charitable works, as if they were an obsession on the part of a few and not the burning heart of the Church's mission, convinces me of the need to go back and re-read the Gospel, lest we risk replacing it with the wisdom of the world" (1.15).
"The Christian presence among the sick reveals that salvation is not an abstract idea, but a concrete one. In the act of healing a wound, the Church proclaims that the Kingdom of God begins among the most vulnerable. In doing so, she remains faithful to the One who said, 'I was sick and you visited me" (Mt 25:36). When the church kneels beside a leper, a malnourished child or an anonymous dying person, she fulfills her deepest vocation: to love the Lord where he is most disfigured" (3.52).
"The monks' witness showed that voluntary poverty, far from being misery, is a path of freedom and communion. They not limit themselves to helping the poor: they became their neighbors...." (3.56).
"Feed the hungry first, and only afterward adorn the altar with what remains" (Chrysostom quoted in 3.41).
"Christian holiness often flourishes in the most forgotten and wounded places of humanity" (3.76).
Marginalized communities as subjects not objects (4.100).
The lack of spiritual care for the poor (5.114).
"Almsgiving at least offers us a chance to halt before the poor, to look into their eyes, to touch them and share something of ourselves with them" (5.116).
Notable quotes:
"This is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, he continues to speak to us" (1.6).
"Wealth has increased, but so together with inequality, with the result that 'new forms of poverty are emerging.' The claim that the modern world has reduced poverty is made by measuring poverty with criteria from the past that do not correspond to present-day realities" (1.13).
"The fact that some dismiss or ridicule charitable works, as if they were an obsession on the part of a few and not the burning heart of the Church's mission, convinces me of the need to go back and re-read the Gospel, lest we risk replacing it with the wisdom of the world" (1.15).
"The Christian presence among the sick reveals that salvation is not an abstract idea, but a concrete one. In the act of healing a wound, the Church proclaims that the Kingdom of God begins among the most vulnerable. In doing so, she remains faithful to the One who said, 'I was sick and you visited me" (Mt 25:36). When the church kneels beside a leper, a malnourished child or an anonymous dying person, she fulfills her deepest vocation: to love the Lord where he is most disfigured" (3.52).
"The monks' witness showed that voluntary poverty, far from being misery, is a path of freedom and communion. They not limit themselves to helping the poor: they became their neighbors...." (3.56).
"Feed the hungry first, and only afterward adorn the altar with what remains" (Chrysostom quoted in 3.41).
"Christian holiness often flourishes in the most forgotten and wounded places of humanity" (3.76).
Marginalized communities as subjects not objects (4.100).
The lack of spiritual care for the poor (5.114).
"Almsgiving at least offers us a chance to halt before the poor, to look into their eyes, to touch them and share something of ourselves with them" (5.116).
October 12, 2025
„Cóż to za korzyść dla Niego, jeśli Jego ołtarz pełen jest złotych kielichów, a On sam umiera z głodu (w osobie biedaka)? Najpierw nasyć głodnego, a potem z tego co zostanie, przyozdób także Jego ołtarz.”
December 15, 2025
Pope Leo XIV in his Encyclical spells out how the Church finds its fulfilment in recognizing Christ in the poor, needy and abandoned. Taking cues from the different religious orders and social institutions, he shows how care and concern for the poor helps us discover Christ and puts us on a path to holiness
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Me quedó claro que tengo mucha tarea para combatir el pecado social de la indiferencia hacia los necesitados. Uno de mis propósitos para el 2026, venga 💪🏼
December 31, 2025
I bought this during my recent pilgrimage to Rome during Jubilee — it was one of the few books in English, and written by the first Pope I’d gotten to see just hours earlier.
My only critique is that this could’ve been written much more concisely. However, Pope Leo presents poverty not only as a lack of things but as a loss of dignity, freedom, participation, and belonging. He ties these forms of deprivation back to the incarnation of Christ, who chose to be poor, and to the Church’s preferential option for the poor — meaning the Church must love and serve all forms of poverty, from material need to social exclusion to spiritual desolation. Below are some of the types of poverty he references:
• Material Poverty: the classic form of poverty — lack of food, basic subsistence, shelter, and material means to live
• Social and Structural Poverty: exclusion, inequality, and the loss of rights and freedoms as forms of poverty
• Poverty of Rights & Freedom: those who lack legal standing, freedom, or a voice in society — people whose dignity is denied through structural injustice, oppression or lack of protection
• Social Marginalization Poverty: people who lack social recognition, voice, and dignity, including people pushed to the margins because of race, class, disability, or social stigma
• Women Who Face Violence: refers to women who are “doubly poor” because their poverty is compounded by exclusion, mistreatment, and violence
• Migrants & Refugees: poverty of those uprooted, defenseless, and who often lack basic security or belonging
• Poverty of Education: lack of access to education, cultural resources, and formation that are crucial to upholding human dignity
• Poverty of Health: whether the ill or the old, those who lack healthy bodies and remind us of our mortality
• Moral/Spiritual Poverty: a lack of orientation toward truth, lack of communion with God, and spiritual desolation
My favorite quote from the book:
“Therefore, when the Church bends down to care for the poor, she assumes her highest posture.”
My only critique is that this could’ve been written much more concisely. However, Pope Leo presents poverty not only as a lack of things but as a loss of dignity, freedom, participation, and belonging. He ties these forms of deprivation back to the incarnation of Christ, who chose to be poor, and to the Church’s preferential option for the poor — meaning the Church must love and serve all forms of poverty, from material need to social exclusion to spiritual desolation. Below are some of the types of poverty he references:
• Material Poverty: the classic form of poverty — lack of food, basic subsistence, shelter, and material means to live
• Social and Structural Poverty: exclusion, inequality, and the loss of rights and freedoms as forms of poverty
• Poverty of Rights & Freedom: those who lack legal standing, freedom, or a voice in society — people whose dignity is denied through structural injustice, oppression or lack of protection
• Social Marginalization Poverty: people who lack social recognition, voice, and dignity, including people pushed to the margins because of race, class, disability, or social stigma
• Women Who Face Violence: refers to women who are “doubly poor” because their poverty is compounded by exclusion, mistreatment, and violence
• Migrants & Refugees: poverty of those uprooted, defenseless, and who often lack basic security or belonging
• Poverty of Education: lack of access to education, cultural resources, and formation that are crucial to upholding human dignity
• Poverty of Health: whether the ill or the old, those who lack healthy bodies and remind us of our mortality
• Moral/Spiritual Poverty: a lack of orientation toward truth, lack of communion with God, and spiritual desolation
My favorite quote from the book:
“Therefore, when the Church bends down to care for the poor, she assumes her highest posture.”
October 19, 2025
In his first Apostolic Exhortation Pope Leo presents the love of Christ manifested in a preferential option for the poor. He notes the many faces of the poor including those who lack material means, those wo are marginalized in society, those who are morally, spiritually or culturally poor. He decries the increase of inequality in society as the rich become richer, the poor become poorer. He addresses migration asking us to “welcome, protect, promote, and integrate” and urges us to see migrants as teachers of the gospel. He addresses women who are victims of violence and exclusion. He challenges those who disparage almsgiving or are indifferent to suffering. He draws on the witness of saints, blessed and religious and highlights the right to education. There’s a lot in this exhortation – a lot to pray about, a lot to digest and a lot to act on.
Sadly I didn't read this in French, but in English but I couldn't find an upload of this document in English to attach my review to.
Sadly I didn't read this in French, but in English but I couldn't find an upload of this document in English to attach my review to.
October 11, 2025
Dios no nos ha dejado solos, Dios nos tiene a nosotros, obra a través de nosotros y busca que seamos quienes ayudamos a los mas necesitados, que tengamos en nuestras manos también la capacidad gloriosa de ayudar, de amar – que mayor regalo que el de tener ese poder de Dios por sanar y tomar al hermano para ayudarlo a seguir caminando. Aunque no nos sintamos dignos, Dios nos llama a ser capaces de hacer su deseo de justicia y amor posible. Dios nos atraviesa en esa compasión y ansias por luchar por quienes más nos necesitan. Ahora lo siento posible. Tengo la fuerza de Dios en mí para hacer el bien aunque no parezca que pueda revelarme ante el mal, sí puedo porque Dios está en mí.
October 9, 2025
Read the English version on the Vatican website. It’s great. It’s a challenging read not in words but in the message. We need to care for the poor. Pope Leo calls us to do that, gives countless examples from history of the Church doing this, and quotes many Popes and their writings/sayings on the Church’s love for the poor. Pope Leo inspires us through his own work as a missionary in Peru, helping us love the poor as we love ourselves. Love the poor as Christ loves us. It’s a challenge, yet inspires me. A lot of quotes I thought this is genius who wrote this line?!?! It was Pope Francis. This document serves as a great bridge of unity not only among all of Church history, but most especially from Francis to Leo.
October 12, 2025
The poor are not guilty of their poverty and we should always give money to a beggar.
“Almsgiving at least offers us a chance to halt before the poor, to look into their eyes, to touch them and to share something of ourselves with them. In any event, almsgiving, however modest, brings a touch of pietas into a society otherwise marked by the frenetic pursuit of personal gain.”
“Almsgiving at least offers us a chance to halt before the poor, to look into their eyes, to touch them and to share something of ourselves with them. In any event, almsgiving, however modest, brings a touch of pietas into a society otherwise marked by the frenetic pursuit of personal gain.”
October 29, 2025
It was a great nod to Pope Francis and beginning to Pope Leo's writings.
"A Church that sets no limits to love...is the Church that the world needs today."
"A Church that sets no limits to love...is the Church that the world needs today."
Read
January 19, 2026I am grateful for Pope Leo's ministry.
Read
January 25, 2026Wonderful. Reads like a really good research paper and kindles loving-concern in the heart.
January 9, 2026
Warto przeczytać. Łagodnie i konkretnie wzywa do nawrócenia i mobilizuje, by szukać w swoim życiu tych przestrzeni, w których można zacząć działać natychmiast i wprowadzać w życie słowa papieskiej adhortacji.
December 10, 2025
Una lectura muy profunda donde el Papa logra hacer entender la importancia de este tema para la Iglesia y para la vida personal de cada cristiano. Además logra aterrizar las ideas, no se queda solo en una exhortación, aunque ese sea el tipo de documento. Se agradece la claridad y la facilidad de aplicación.
December 15, 2025
I picked up this volume for a few reasons, first it was the first formal document from our New Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, second it was the next volume in Father Mark Goring’s Saint Mark’s School of Reading. This is available on the Vatican website for free, and the Opus Dei site as well, but I prefer the CTS Booklet version, I just wish they could publish an eBook edition. I worked through two different versions of this book, this physical edition and the eBook edition available from Opus Dei. I used text-to-speech to listen to the eBook and read this version. Father Mark gave some sound advice before we even began reading it as a group. He recommended that we not read or listen to much commentary about it until we have read it ourselves. I read it through with that in mind. Then I worked through the video lessons with Father Mark and guests, and then I listened to it while following along using adaptive technology.
About this volume we are informed that:
““[Love for the poor] is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, he continues to speak to us.” (Pope Leo XIV)
The description of this volume is:
“In his final months, Pope Francis was preparing an Apostolic Exhortation on the Church's care for the poor. Giving it the title "Dilexi Te", he intended it to be a follow-up to his final encyclical, "Dilexit Nos". The title is a message of love from Jesus to the poor, referring to the Book of Revelation: "You have but little power," yet "I have loved you" (3:9).
Now, at the start of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV has chosen to make this document his own, by adding his own reflections to those of Pope Francis, "since 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."
"Love for the Lord, then, is one with love for the poor. The same Jesus who tells us, "The poor you will always have with you" (Mt 26:11), also promises the disciples: "I am with you always" (Mt 28:20). We likewise think of his saying: "Just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me" (Mt 25:40). This is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, he continues to speak to us." (§5)”
The chapters in this volume are:
Introduction
A Few Essential Words
God Chooses the Poor
A Church for the Poor
A History That Continues
A Constant Challenge
I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume the second time, they are:
“It was a small gesture, of course, but those who suffer know how great even a small gesture of affection can be, and how much relief it can bring. Jesus understood this and told the disciples that the memory of her gesture would endure:”
“The simplicity of that woman’s gesture speaks volumes. No sign of affection, even the smallest, will ever be forgotten, especially if it is shown to those who are suffering, lonely or in need, as was the Lord at that time.”
“Care for the poor was also a great concern of Saint Francis of Assisi: in the person of a leper, Christ himself embraced Francis and changed his life. Even today, Saint Francis, as the Poor Man of Assisi, continues to inspire us by his outstanding example.”
“The condition of the poor is a cry that, throughout human history, constantly challenges our lives, societies, political and economic systems, and, not least, the Church.”
“In general, we are witnessing an increase in different kinds of poverty, which is no longer a single, uniform reality but now involves multiple forms of economic and social impoverishment, reflecting the spread of inequality even in largely affluent contexts.”
“Of course, among the poor there are also those who do not want to work, perhaps because their ancestors, who worked all their lives, died poor. However, there are so many others—men and women—who nonetheless work from dawn to dusk, perhaps collecting scraps or the like, even though they know that their hard work will only help them to scrape by, but never really improve their lives.”
“The poor cannot be neglected if we are to remain within the great current of the Church’s life that has its source in the Gospel and bears fruit in every time and place.”
“This “preference” never indicates exclusivity or discrimination towards other groups, which would be impossible for God. It is meant to emphasize God’s actions, which are moved by compassion toward the poverty and weakness of all humanity.”
“From the beginning of Scripture, God’s love is vividly demonstrated by his protection of the weak and the poor, to the extent that he can be said to have a particular fondness for them.”
“Indeed, that is how Jesus’ poverty is best described: he experienced the same exclusion that is the lot of the poor, the outcast of society. Jesus is a manifestation of this privilegium pauperum. He presented himself to the world not only as a poor Messiah, but also as the Messiah of and for the poor.”
“Here the intrinsic value of respect for others is expressly stated: anyone in need, even an enemy, always deserves our assistance.”
“Jesus’ teaching on the primacy of love for God is clearly complemented by his insistence that one cannot love God without extending one’s love to the poor.”
“It is significant that the first disciple to bear witness to his faith in Christ to the point of shedding his blood was Stephen, who belonged to this group. In him, the witness of caring for the poor and of martyrdom are united.”
“A little less than two centuries later, another deacon, Saint Lawrence, will demonstrate his fidelity to Jesus Christ in a similar way by uniting martyrdom and service to the poor.”
“From the first centuries, the Fathers of the Church recognized in the poor a privileged way to reach God, a special way to meet him. Charity shown to those in need was not only seen as a moral virtue, but a concrete expression of faith in the incarnate Word.”
“The Almighty will not be outdone in generosity to those who serve the people most in need: the greater the love for the poor, the greater the reward from God.”
“When the Church kneels beside a leper, a malnourished child or an anonymous dying person, she fulfills her deepest vocation: to love the Lord where he is most disfigured.”
“The monks’ witness showed that voluntary poverty, far from being misery, is a path of freedom and communion.”
“By forming consciences and transmitting wisdom, monks contributed to a Christian pedagogy of inclusion. Culture, marked by faith, was shared with simplicity. Knowledge, illuminated by charity, became service. Monastic life thus revealed itself as a style of holiness and a concrete way to transform society.”
“The monastic tradition teaches us that prayer and charity, silence and service, cells and hospitals form a single spiritual fabric. The monastery is a place of listening and action, of worship and sharing.”
“Christian holiness often flourishes in the most forgotten and wounded places of humanity. The poorest of the poor—those who lack not only material goods but also a voice and the recognition of their dignity—have a special place in God’s heart.”
“We could also mention individuals such as Saint Benedict Menni and the Sisters Hospitallers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who worked alongside people with disabilities; Saint Charles de Foucauld among the communities of the Sahara; Saint Katharine Drexel for the most underprivileged groups in North America; Sister Emmanuelle, with the garbage collectors in the Ezbet El Nakhl neighborhood of Cairo; and many others.”
“Let me state once again that the most important way to help the disadvantaged is to assist them in finding a good job, so that they can lead a more dignified life by developing their abilities and contributing their fair share. In this sense, “lack of work means far more than simply not having a steady source of income. Work is also this, but it is much, much more. By working we become a fuller person, our humanity flourishes, young people become adults only by working.”
“Our love and our deepest convictions need to be continually cultivated, and we do so through our concrete actions. Remaining in the realm of ideas and theories, while failing to give them expression through frequent and practical acts of charity, will eventually cause even our most cherished hopes and aspirations to weaken and fade away.”
I hope those quotes give you a feel for the content of this Apostolic Letter. I admit I was unsure of what to expect when I began reading this. I am thankful I gave it a read. This was an interesting document to read. And to be honest at times not an easy one. I paused several times to really think on specific points or to pray. And I can say it is one that has spurred me to action.
I am thankful I gave this a read and for the video’s from Father Mark and team. It was well worth working through.
Read reviews of other books by from the Catholic Truth Society on my blog Book Reviews and More.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!
About this volume we are informed that:
““[Love for the poor] is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, he continues to speak to us.” (Pope Leo XIV)
The description of this volume is:
“In his final months, Pope Francis was preparing an Apostolic Exhortation on the Church's care for the poor. Giving it the title "Dilexi Te", he intended it to be a follow-up to his final encyclical, "Dilexit Nos". The title is a message of love from Jesus to the poor, referring to the Book of Revelation: "You have but little power," yet "I have loved you" (3:9).
Now, at the start of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV has chosen to make this document his own, by adding his own reflections to those of Pope Francis, "since 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."
"Love for the Lord, then, is one with love for the poor. The same Jesus who tells us, "The poor you will always have with you" (Mt 26:11), also promises the disciples: "I am with you always" (Mt 28:20). We likewise think of his saying: "Just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me" (Mt 25:40). This is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, he continues to speak to us." (§5)”
The chapters in this volume are:
Introduction
A Few Essential Words
God Chooses the Poor
A Church for the Poor
A History That Continues
A Constant Challenge
I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume the second time, they are:
“It was a small gesture, of course, but those who suffer know how great even a small gesture of affection can be, and how much relief it can bring. Jesus understood this and told the disciples that the memory of her gesture would endure:”
“The simplicity of that woman’s gesture speaks volumes. No sign of affection, even the smallest, will ever be forgotten, especially if it is shown to those who are suffering, lonely or in need, as was the Lord at that time.”
“Care for the poor was also a great concern of Saint Francis of Assisi: in the person of a leper, Christ himself embraced Francis and changed his life. Even today, Saint Francis, as the Poor Man of Assisi, continues to inspire us by his outstanding example.”
“The condition of the poor is a cry that, throughout human history, constantly challenges our lives, societies, political and economic systems, and, not least, the Church.”
“In general, we are witnessing an increase in different kinds of poverty, which is no longer a single, uniform reality but now involves multiple forms of economic and social impoverishment, reflecting the spread of inequality even in largely affluent contexts.”
“Of course, among the poor there are also those who do not want to work, perhaps because their ancestors, who worked all their lives, died poor. However, there are so many others—men and women—who nonetheless work from dawn to dusk, perhaps collecting scraps or the like, even though they know that their hard work will only help them to scrape by, but never really improve their lives.”
“The poor cannot be neglected if we are to remain within the great current of the Church’s life that has its source in the Gospel and bears fruit in every time and place.”
“This “preference” never indicates exclusivity or discrimination towards other groups, which would be impossible for God. It is meant to emphasize God’s actions, which are moved by compassion toward the poverty and weakness of all humanity.”
“From the beginning of Scripture, God’s love is vividly demonstrated by his protection of the weak and the poor, to the extent that he can be said to have a particular fondness for them.”
“Indeed, that is how Jesus’ poverty is best described: he experienced the same exclusion that is the lot of the poor, the outcast of society. Jesus is a manifestation of this privilegium pauperum. He presented himself to the world not only as a poor Messiah, but also as the Messiah of and for the poor.”
“Here the intrinsic value of respect for others is expressly stated: anyone in need, even an enemy, always deserves our assistance.”
“Jesus’ teaching on the primacy of love for God is clearly complemented by his insistence that one cannot love God without extending one’s love to the poor.”
“It is significant that the first disciple to bear witness to his faith in Christ to the point of shedding his blood was Stephen, who belonged to this group. In him, the witness of caring for the poor and of martyrdom are united.”
“A little less than two centuries later, another deacon, Saint Lawrence, will demonstrate his fidelity to Jesus Christ in a similar way by uniting martyrdom and service to the poor.”
“From the first centuries, the Fathers of the Church recognized in the poor a privileged way to reach God, a special way to meet him. Charity shown to those in need was not only seen as a moral virtue, but a concrete expression of faith in the incarnate Word.”
“The Almighty will not be outdone in generosity to those who serve the people most in need: the greater the love for the poor, the greater the reward from God.”
“When the Church kneels beside a leper, a malnourished child or an anonymous dying person, she fulfills her deepest vocation: to love the Lord where he is most disfigured.”
“The monks’ witness showed that voluntary poverty, far from being misery, is a path of freedom and communion.”
“By forming consciences and transmitting wisdom, monks contributed to a Christian pedagogy of inclusion. Culture, marked by faith, was shared with simplicity. Knowledge, illuminated by charity, became service. Monastic life thus revealed itself as a style of holiness and a concrete way to transform society.”
“The monastic tradition teaches us that prayer and charity, silence and service, cells and hospitals form a single spiritual fabric. The monastery is a place of listening and action, of worship and sharing.”
“Christian holiness often flourishes in the most forgotten and wounded places of humanity. The poorest of the poor—those who lack not only material goods but also a voice and the recognition of their dignity—have a special place in God’s heart.”
“We could also mention individuals such as Saint Benedict Menni and the Sisters Hospitallers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who worked alongside people with disabilities; Saint Charles de Foucauld among the communities of the Sahara; Saint Katharine Drexel for the most underprivileged groups in North America; Sister Emmanuelle, with the garbage collectors in the Ezbet El Nakhl neighborhood of Cairo; and many others.”
“Let me state once again that the most important way to help the disadvantaged is to assist them in finding a good job, so that they can lead a more dignified life by developing their abilities and contributing their fair share. In this sense, “lack of work means far more than simply not having a steady source of income. Work is also this, but it is much, much more. By working we become a fuller person, our humanity flourishes, young people become adults only by working.”
“Our love and our deepest convictions need to be continually cultivated, and we do so through our concrete actions. Remaining in the realm of ideas and theories, while failing to give them expression through frequent and practical acts of charity, will eventually cause even our most cherished hopes and aspirations to weaken and fade away.”
I hope those quotes give you a feel for the content of this Apostolic Letter. I admit I was unsure of what to expect when I began reading this. I am thankful I gave it a read. This was an interesting document to read. And to be honest at times not an easy one. I paused several times to really think on specific points or to pray. And I can say it is one that has spurred me to action.
I am thankful I gave this a read and for the video’s from Father Mark and team. It was well worth working through.
Read reviews of other books by from the Catholic Truth Society on my blog Book Reviews and More.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!
October 28, 2025
La lettura è di facile comprensione, e non è appesantita da complesse considerazioni teologiche.
L'argomento è interessante e porta a mettere in discussione i propri valori, a volte in modo brutale.
Non posso dire che sia un libro divertente, ma il contenuto compensa totalmente.
L'argomento è interessante e porta a mettere in discussione i propri valori, a volte in modo brutale.
Non posso dire che sia un libro divertente, ma il contenuto compensa totalmente.
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