Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on September 10, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Add as preferred source on GooglePope Leo is set to release his first apostolic exhortation, focusing on poverty and continuing Pope Francis' legacy.
By Joshua McElwee
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Leo is preparing to publish the first high-level document of his four-month papacy, which is expected to signal continuity with his predecessor Pope Francis and focus on the needs of the world's poor, three informed sources told Reuters.
The text, known as an apostolic exhortation, will likely take the name "Dilexit te" (He loved you) and be published in the next few weeks, they said.
The title of the new text suggests a strong tie with Francis, who died in April after leading the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church for 12 years. His last major document, an encyclical, was issued in October 2024 with the name "Dilexit nos" (He loved us).
Popes often write a document setting out their priorities in the first months of their tenure, but it is unclear if Leo's text will address several themes or focus on one issue.
Francis shunned many of the trappings of the papacy. He often hosted meals with Rome's homeless population and frequently criticised the global market system as not caring for society's most vulnerable people.
Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost and the first U.S. pope, was elected to replace Francis by the world's cardinals on May 8.
Francis' last encyclical, "Dilexit nos," took a different approach from many of his other writings, largely abstaining from talking about political issues and instead focusing on spiritual themes.
In that text, Francis urged the world's Catholics to abandon the "mad pursuit" of money and instead devote themselves to their faith.
(Reporting by Joshua McElweeEditing by Gareth Jones)
An apostolic exhortation is a document issued by the Pope that encourages and motivates the faithful to engage in specific actions or behaviors, often addressing important social or spiritual issues.
The Pope is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, responsible for guiding the faith, providing spiritual leadership, and addressing moral and social issues affecting the global community.
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