The Vatican has announced that Pope Leo will release his first major document, an apostolic exhortation titled “Dilexi Te” (“He loved you”), on October 9 — a publication expected to shed light on the new pontiff’s vision for the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church.

The Vatican confirmed on Saturday that the document was formally signed by Pope Leo on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century saint known for his humility, devotion to the poor, and reverence for nature.

According to Vatican officials, Dilexi Te is expected to emphasise care for the world’s poor, echoing the late Pope Francis’ long-standing advocacy for the marginalised. The choice of title also reflects thematic continuity with Francis’ final encyclical, “Dilexit Nos” (“He loved us”), issued in October 2024.

Officials revealed that Pope Leo’s upcoming text completes a writing project initiated by Francis but left unfinished before his death in April, which ended his 12-year papacy.

Leo, who made history in May as the first American to be elected pope, has signalled a desire to maintain Francis’ spirit of simplicity and compassion. His decision to finalise and release Dilexi Te on St. Francis’ feast day is being viewed as a symbolic gesture of alignment with his predecessor’s priorities.

Pope Francis, the first pontiff to take the saint’s name, was renowned for his humility and criticism of global economic systems that neglected society’s most vulnerable. His final encyclical, Dilexit Nos, focused on faith and spiritual devotion over material gain, urging Catholics to turn away from the “mad pursuit” of wealth.

Melissa Enoch

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