The love of Christ and the preferential option for the poor

a theological-pastoral reading of Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te

Abstract

The Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te (“I have loved you” – Rev 3:9), promulgated by Pope Leo XIV on October 4, 2025, marks a theological and pastoral milestone at the beginning of his pontificate. Rooted in biblical and patristic tradition, the exhortation reaffirms love as the central category of faith and as the fundamental criterion for the Church’s mission. Through the concept of “transformative charity,” the document articulates a synthesis of spirituality, social justice, and community action, reaffirming the preferential option for the poor as a theological requirement rather than a merely sociopolitical dimension. This article is situated within the field of Pastoral Theology and Catholic Social Teaching and offers a critical-theological-pastoral interpretation of Dilexi te, identifying its doctrinal foundations, internal tensions, and pastoral implications for contemporary evangelization. The analysis shows that Leo XIV proposes a new theological grammar of Christian love, in which charity assumes epistemological, spiritual, and practical dimensions. Within this horizon, faith is understood as a way of life integrating contemplation and commitment, mysticism and justice, prayer and social transformation.