Pope‘s Exhortation Reaffirms Core Catholic Principle: Prioritizing the Poor
A new papal exhortation, “Dilexi Te,” is being lauded by Catholic leaders as a powerful restatement of the Church’s longstanding commitment to serving and advocating for those living in poverty. Experts emphasize the document doesn’t introduce a new concept,but rather reinforces a foundational tenet of Christian faith.
according to John Sullivan,speaking with OSV News,the exhortation directly addresses concerns about prioritizing the needs of the poor,framing it not as a matter of social justice advocacy,but as a fundamental obligation for all Christians. “He’s calling us all-it’s fundamentally part of who we are as Christians,” Sullivan stated. ”This isn’t something that is an idle fancy of those who prioritize social justice. This is all of us, as Christians, are called to love the poor in the same way that they love God.”
This emphasis resonates with the beliefs of many U.S. Catholics. A Pew Research Center poll released in June revealed that 47% consider “working with the poor and needy” essential to their Catholic identity. This ranked closely behind a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (69%) and devotion to the Virgin Mary (50%), and ahead of receiving the Eucharist (46%).
Sullivan further highlighted the document’s grounding in scripture,stating,”He emphasizes that this comes straight from the Gospels…This is something that’s core to who we are as Christians.” He also noted Pope Leo’s condemnation of power imbalances and the injustice of those exploiting them for personal gain, a critique he believes should transcend political divides.
The exhortation’s focus on systemic change is particularly encouraging to organizations already dedicated to poverty relief. John Berry, national president of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul USA, which provides over $1.7 billion in aid annually to more than 5 million people through direct services, food pantries, and disaster relief, praised the document’s “candid and profound criticism of the ills of modern society, and its focus on materialism over care for others.” Berry expressed being “thrilled” and “encouraged” by Pope Leo’s call to not only serve the poor, but to actively advocate for them and work to reform unjust systems and policies.
Pope Leo’s message also addresses the plight of migrants and refugees, a timely concern given current global circumstances. Berry emphasized the pontiff’s “strong scriptural teaching on the importance of treating immigrants and migrants with dignity, respect, and love.”
Michele Dunne, Executive Director of the Franciscan Action Network, a group focused on peace, creation care, poverty, and human rights, underscored the historical continuity of the Church’s commitment to the poor. Dunne noted that Pope Leo illustrates this continuity through examples spanning from the life of Jesus to the present day, emphasizing that care for the poor is “not something remarkable…It’s something essential to Christianity-and the preferential option for the poor is not optional, it’s essential.”
