Pope Leo XIV has published the Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te, on love for the poor. Continuing Pope Francis’s project, he offers it “at the beginning of my pontificate” so that “all Christians may perceive the strong connection between Christ’s love and His call to draw near to the poor” (n. 3).
The text invites us to recognize the face of the Lord in the poor:
“Contact with those who have no power or greatness is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history” (n. 5).
Among the witnesses of Christian charity, the Holy Father gratefully mentions the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac, highlighting their maternal care for the sick and their “special blessing from God to serve the poor sick in hospitals” (n. 51).
For us, *Daughters of Charity, *Dilexi te is a clear call to renew our vocation: to love Christ in the poor with boldness, simplicity, and hope.
As we prepare for our Domestic Assemblies, this exhortation strengthens our shared journey and reminds us that charity remains the source and breath of our mission.
