- Signs his Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te
The Holy See Press Office issued a statement on Saturday morning, 4 October, that at 8:30 in the private library of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo XIV signed his Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te in the presence of Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State.
The document will be presented on Thursday, October 9, at 11:30 at the Holy See Press Office.
Signed on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the document is Pope Leo’s first apostolic exhortation.
“Dilexi te”, Pope Leo XIV’s first Apostolic Exhortation, signed on October 4, 2025, to commemorate the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.
The document, which translates to “I have loved you,” focuses on love of neighbour, care for the poor, and echoes themes from Pope Francis’ final encyclical, “Dilexit Nos”.
It serves as a pastoral stimulus to guide the faithful towards Gospel values in daily life.
The Apostolic Exhortation emphasizes solidarity with the poor, a central theme of Pope Francis’ papacy
It urges Catholics to prioritise service over materialism.
It continues Pope Francis’ call for compassion and care for the marginalised.
It builds on a project originally started by Pope Francis before his passing
The document is set to be presented on October 9, 2025, and is expected to shed light on Pope Leo XIV’s vision for the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church.