In a series of sweeping declarations and heartfelt gestures, Pope Leo XIV has placed the plight of migrants and the poor at the very center of his papacy, calling on Catholics worldwide to embrace social justice and defend the dignity of the most vulnerable. Over the past week, the Vatican has been a flurry of activity as the pontiff released his first major document, met with U.S. bishops, and issued personal messages to those on the front lines of the immigration debate.
On October 9, 2025, Pope Leo XIV unveiled his much-anticipated Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi te ("I Have Loved You"), a nearly 40-page treatise that denounces what he calls the "dictatorship" of economic inequality and urges the Catholic Church to take bold action to support "rejected" migrants. According to NPR and Religion News Service, the document is addressed to "All Christians" and is divided into five chapters, each underscoring the Church's obligation to accompany the poor, welcome the stranger, and challenge unjust social structures.
"The Church, like a mother, accompanies those who are walking," Pope Leo wrote. "Where the world sees threats, she sees children; where walls are built, she builds bridges. She knows that her proclamation of the Gospel is credible only when it is translated into gestures of closeness and welcome. And she knows that in every rejected migrant, it is Christ himself who knocks at the door of the community."
The timing of the exhortation was no accident. Signed on October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the document follows a tradition of papal advocacy for the poor that stretches back to St. John XXIII. Pope Leo openly builds on the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis, whose final encyclical, Dilexit Nos, called for a "preferential treatment for the poor" and a "poor church for the poor." Leo's document, as reported by The Tablet, was being prepared by Francis in his last months, but Leo made it his own, signaling a seamless continuity in the Church's social mission.
But Leo's vision extends beyond lofty pronouncements. The past week saw him directly engaged with Catholic leaders grappling with the real-world consequences of U.S. immigration policies. On October 8, Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso met with the pope at the Vatican, delivering a packet of letters from immigrant families "terrorized" by the Trump administration's aggressive deportation tactics. The letters, according to Associated Press, described a climate of fear so pervasive that even legal migrants and U.S. citizens are afraid to leave their homes, shop, or attend church.
"They're terrorized. And it is a fear that has a long-term impact on people, on their lives," Seitz told reporters. During their meeting, he said, Leo "had a few words for us, thanking us for our commitment to the immigrant peoples and also saying that he hopes that the bishops' conference will speak to this issue." Seitz recalled a moment of solidarity: "Later on in the meeting he said, 'I will stand with you,' so it was a beautiful little exchange."
The pope's stance is unambiguous. He has publicly criticized what he calls the "inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States," warning that such policies deprive people of their inherent dignity. In a pointed remark earlier this month, Leo said, "Someone who says 'I'm against abortion but says I am 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 in the United States,' I don't know if that's pro-life."
As Catholic News Agency reported, Pope Leo also addressed the 115th annual meeting of Catholic Charities USA, held October 6–9 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The pope commended the network for being "agents of hope" to vulnerable people, especially migrants and refugees. "Through providing food, shelter, medical care, legal assistance, and many other gestures of kindness, Catholic Charities affiliates across the United States show what Pope Francis often referred to as God’s ‘style’ of closeness, compassion, and tenderness," he wrote. He encouraged the affiliates to continue helping communities receive migrants as "living witnesses of hope, recognizing that they have an intrinsic human dignity and are invited to participate fully in community life."
Catholic Charities USA, founded in 1910, is a vast network of 168 independent agencies operating across every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, and five territories. Kerry Alys Robinson, its president and CEO, expressed gratitude for the pope's support: "We are inspired and invigorated by the solidarity and encouragement he offered in his letter."
Leo’s exhortation, Dilexi te, is not just a critique of policies but a rebuke of ideologies that, in his words, "defend the absolute autonomy of the marketplace and financial speculation," with false promises "that a free-market economy will automatically solve the problem of poverty." The pope describes a "new tyranny," where the economy is structured "in such a way that sacrifices are demanded of the masses in order to serve the needs of the powerful." He warns that the poor are often left with only "drops that trickle down," and challenges Christians to practice charity, not as a panacea, but as a moral imperative. "God does not need golden vessels, but golden souls," Leo wrote, cautioning against a Church that risks "breaking down" if it fails to help the poor and marginalized.
In a nod to history, Leo referenced Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first U.S. citizen to be declared a saint, who aided poor Italian immigrants in the U.S. at the turn of the 20th century. Her example, he said, remains a model for welcoming and integrating newcomers. He also cited the contributions of women, religious orders, and missionaries combating modern forms of slavery and human trafficking.
While the pope's message has drawn criticism from some quarters—echoing the backlash faced by Pope Francis—Leo remains steadfast. Cardinal Michael Czerny, presenting the exhortation at the Vatican, remarked, "This is Pope Leo’s document, it is the magisterium of the church." He added that attacks from critics often signal the Church is "actually doing something."
There are even rumors, as reported by Associated Press, that Pope Leo XIV may visit the United States in 2026 for the nation's 250th anniversary, with President Trump having extended an invitation. While Vatican officials remain noncommittal, Bishop Seitz said, "Well, you know he'd be welcome."
As the world faces what the pope calls an "epochal change," Leo insists the Church must be a force for good, harnessing science and technology to eradicate the structural causes of poverty. He urges Catholics to "make history" by standing alongside the poor and migrants—not just on their behalf—and to denounce injustice even "at the cost of appearing foolish or naïve."
Through his words and actions, Pope Leo XIV has set a clear course for his papacy: one rooted in solidarity, compassion, and a relentless pursuit of justice for the poor and displaced. The challenge now, for Catholics and all people of goodwill, is to answer that call.