Cardinals Michael Czerny S.J. and Konrad Krajewski, prefects of the Dicasteries for Integral Human Development and for Charity, respectively, were in charge of presenting Dilexi Tethe first apostolic exhortation signed by Robert Prevost.
The presentation was also attended by Franciscan Frédéric-Marie Le Méhauté and Sister Clémence of the Little Sisters of Jesus.
Dilexi te, signed by the Pope on October 4, 2009.The Apostolic Exhortation on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi is the first magisterial document of Pope Leo XIV, who inherited this text from Pope Francis, as explained at the beginning of the Apostolic Exhortation.
Robert Prevost has finalized and revised this apostolic exhortation, which consists of 121 points and largely reflects the Church's main messages on social inequality, poverty and the responsibilities of the most developed countries.
A social and theological issue
Bishop Czerny wanted to emphasize how the document shows that "poverty is a social theme and a theological theme, because the Lord speaks to the Church, faith becomes real" through them. He also wanted to underline how "poverty comes from the structures that perpetuate differences, from that economy that kills, that measures human value by productivity".
"The Church," continued the Prefect of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, "denounces the false impartiality of the market and focuses on the conversion of structures. It advocates a form of social repentance that restores dignity to invisible people."
The poor are the face of Christ
For its part, Msgr. Konrad Krajewski, Prefect of the Dicastery for Charity and Apostolic Almoner, wanted to emphasize how Pope Leo XIV, at the beginning of his pontificate, confirmed him in his work as the person in charge of charity in the Holy See and highlighted the "two thousand year history" of the Church in its attention to the most vulnerable. A history that is made today, as Jesus did "in the Gospel there is today. Christ goes to Zacchaeus' house 'right now', he orders to feed the crowds 'right now'".
"Love for those who are poor is the evangelical guarantee of a Church faithful to the heart of Christ," Msgr. Krajewski recalled. "Attention will be diverse, as has been seen over the centuries, but it will always have to exist because it is in the poor that the Church recognizes the face of Christ." In this regard, the apostolic almoner recalled an anecdote with Pope Francis: Krajewski complained that he did not reach everything, despite the showers in the Vatican, medical care, etc., and the Pope told him: 'You help Christ directly and you regret it?'
Finally, the apostolic almoner wanted to emphasize the importance of almsgiving, which occupies the last part of the Apostolic Exhortation, and that almsgiving, "which today does not enjoy a good reputation, often
even among believers. Not only is it not practiced, it is despised."
Being Church with the poor
The presentation concluded with a testimonial intervention by Sister Clémence, of the Little Sisters of Jesus, who was able to share her experience with the Roma communities. Sister Clémence emphasized how, through this document, "the Holy Father invites us to recognize the 'mysterious wisdom that God wants to communicate to us through them'. Following their example, we rediscover solidarity, which we often quickly forget in our eagerness to preserve our riches".
The presentation concluded with a reflection by Friar Frédéric-Marie Le Méhauté, a Franciscan, who gave a summary of Dilexi TeHe especially emphasized how it is a document that highlights the work of the Church for the poor and with the poor: "Dilexi Te reminds us of the need to commit ourselves to the poor, to give to the poor, especially through almsgiving. However, he stresses that it is essential to learn how to act with them".
In the coming hours, Omnes will publish a complete reflection on this first apostolic exhortation of Pope Leo XIV by the priest and theologian, Ramiro Pellitero.
