On October 9, 2025, the Vatican released a 104-page apostolic exhortation titled Dilexi te ("I have loved you"), marking Pope Leo XIV’s first major document and igniting a global debate over immigration, inequality, and the Catholic Church’s role in modern politics. The document, which Pope Leo completed after the death of his predecessor Pope Francis in April, continues a legacy of outspoken advocacy for the world’s most vulnerable—especially migrants and the poor—while delivering pointed criticism of former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and the broader economic system that, in the Pope’s view, perpetuates inequality.
"I am happy to make this document my own—adding some reflections—and to issue it at the beginning of my own pontificate," Pope Leo writes at the document’s outset, as reported by Reuters and Economic Times. This text, begun by Francis but left unfinished upon his death after twelve years leading the Church’s 1.4 billion faithful, signals both continuity and change: Leo, the first U.S. pope, has generally adopted a quieter style than Francis but has recently stepped up his public disapproval of harsh immigration policies, drawing both praise and heated backlash, particularly from conservative Catholics.
Central to Dilexi te is a call for Catholics—and, by extension, the world—to aid immigrants and pursue systemic reforms to the global market. Pope Leo’s language is unflinching: "The Church, like a mother, accompanies those who are walking. She knows that in every rejected migrant, it is Christ himself who knocks at the door of the community." The text goes further, arguing that "where the world sees threats, (the Church) sees children; where walls are built, she builds bridges." These words directly echo Francis’ widely reported 2016 rebuke of Trump’s plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, which Francis called "not Christian."
The document’s release comes at a time of heightened anxiety for migrant communities. According to Reuters, since Trump’s return to office in January, federal immigration officers have conducted sweeping raids, removing more than 71,400 people in 2025 alone—figures confirmed by ICE. The crackdown has sparked widespread protests, legal challenges, and deep fears among both undocumented and legal immigrants, some of whom have no criminal records but still find themselves caught in the administration’s net.
Pope Leo’s concern is not merely rhetorical. On October 8, he urged U.S. bishops during a Vatican meeting to speak out more forcefully against the Trump administration’s immigration policies. He received letters from migrants expressing their fears about mass deportation efforts. Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas, told Reuters that the pope is "very personally concerned about these matters" and "expressed his desire that the U.S. Bishops’ Conference would speak strongly on this issue."
Leo’s critique extends beyond the U.S. border to the very foundations of the global economy. The document warns that the number of people living in poverty "should constantly weigh upon our consciences." It dismisses theories that justify inaction, stating, "There is no shortage of theories attempting to justify the present state of affairs or to explain that economic thinking requires us to wait for invisible market forces to resolve everything." Instead, Leo argues, "The poor are promised only a few 'drops' that trickle down, until the next global crisis brings things back to where they were."
In a particularly striking passage, the Pope writes, "The illusion of happiness derived from a comfortable life pushes many people towards a vision of life centered on the accumulation of wealth and social success at all costs, even at the expense of others. Either we regain our moral and spiritual dignity or we fall into a cesspool." The message is clear: the Church, and society at large, must reject complacency and the pursuit of wealth at others’ expense if it is to avoid moral decay.
This moral imperative is not limited to economic justice. In recent weeks, Pope Leo has drawn connections between the Church’s teachings on life issues and immigration, challenging those who claim to be "pro-life" but support what he calls the "inhuman treatment of immigrants." As quoted by EWTN News and The Hill, Leo stated, "Someone who says, 'I’m against abortion' but says, 'I’m in favor of the death penalty,' is not really pro-life. Someone who says that, 'I’m against abortion but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants who are in the United States,' I don’t know if that’s pro-life."
These remarks have intensified debates within the Church and beyond. Some conservative Catholics have reacted strongly against Leo’s statements, accusing him of politicizing the papacy and undermining national sovereignty. The White House, for its part, has dismissed the Pope’s criticisms, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterating the administration’s position that Trump was elected on promises to deport "criminal illegal aliens." Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed this sentiment, telling a conservative podcaster that criticism of ICE officers is "completely disrespectful."
The immigration debate has drawn in unexpected voices. Country music superstar Zach Bryan, a Navy veteran from Oklahoma, recently released a song snippet critical of police and ICE, highlighting immigrant fears. In lyrics posted to Instagram, Bryan sang, "And ICE is gonna come bust down your door/Try to build a house no one builds no more... Kids are all scared and all alone." The White House swiftly accused Bryan of wanting to "Open The Gates to criminal illegal aliens," but Bryan clarified that he is not aligned with any radical political side, saying, "Left wing or right wing we’re all one bird and America. To be clear I’m on neither of these radical sides."
The intersection of faith, music, and politics underscores the complexity of today’s immigration debate. As The Boston Globe noted, both Pope Leo and Bryan—figures from vastly different worlds—have become unlikely allies in calling attention to the plight of migrants. Their willingness to speak out, despite backlash, recalls earlier moments in American culture when artists and religious leaders risked public scorn to challenge prevailing attitudes, such as The Chicks’ criticism of the Iraq War or Jason Aldean’s controversial music video responses to social unrest.
Looking ahead, Pope Leo’s leadership appears poised to further shape the Catholic Church’s engagement with global justice issues. The Vatican has announced that Leo will make his first international trip from November 27 to December 2, visiting Turkey and Lebanon—regions at the heart of today’s migration crises. Whether his words will inspire meaningful change remains to be seen, but his message is unmistakable: the Church must stand with the marginalized, build bridges, and reclaim its moral and spiritual dignity.
For many, the release of Dilexi te signals a renewed commitment to the Church’s social mission—and a challenge to Catholics and non-Catholics alike to reconsider what it truly means to love one’s neighbor in an era of walls and widening divides.
