In Dilexi Te, the first apostolic exhortation of Pope Leo XIV's papacy, he relies heavily on the works and words of the saints to challenge readers to think about how they view and treat the poor and impoverished.
Here are five citations that really stood out:
St. Paul on the composition of the early Christian church
Among the faithful of the nascent Christian community not many were “wise according to the flesh, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth” (1 Cor 1:26).
The early Christians were largely poor and did not come from noble stock, according to St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Despite this, "the early Christians were clearly aware of the necessity to care for those who were most in need."
"It is significant that the first disciple to bear witness to his faith in Christ to the point of shedding his blood was Stephen, who belonged to this group. In him, the witness of caring for the poor and of martyrdom are united," said Pope Leo XIV.
St. Lawrence (and St. Ambrose) show the true treasures of the Church
“The following day he brought the poor with him. Questioned about where the promised treasures might be, he pointed to the poor saying, ‘These are the treasures of the Church’.”
St. Lawrence, who lived in the 3rd century, was forced by the authorities in Rome to "turn over the treasures of the Church," wrote Pope Leo in Dilexi Te. Instead of handing over gold, artwork, or anything else that is conventionally deemed valuable, St. Lawrence (according to testimony from St. Ambrose) brought out the members of the Church, who were poor.
In retelling the event, Ambrose commented, "What treasures does Jesus have that are more precious than those in which he loves to show himself?”
The Pope also quoted Ambrose's sharp observation: “What you give to the poor is not your property, but theirs. Why have you appropriated what was given for common use?”
St. John Chrysostom bluntly tells Christians how to worship God: By helping others in need
“Do you wish to honor the body of Christ? Do not allow it to be despised in its members, that is, in the poor, who have no clothes to cover themselves. Do not honor Christ’s body here in church with silk fabrics, while outside you neglect it when it suffers from cold and nakedness… [The body of Christ on the altar] does not need cloaks, but pure souls; while the one outside needs much care. Let us therefore learn to think of and honor Christ as he wishes. For the most pleasing honor we can give to the one we want to venerate is that of doing what he himself desires, not what we devise… So you too, give him the honor he has commanded, and let the poor benefit from your riches. God does not need golden vessels, but golden souls.”
St. John Chrysostom, one of the Eastern Fathers, was the archbishop of Constantinople in the late 4th century and early 5th century, and was "perhaps the most ardent preacher on social justice" of his contemporaries, wrote Pope Leo.
He preached that "if the faithful do not encounter Christ in the poor who stand at the door, they will not be able to worship him even at the altar," said Pope Leo.
Other quotes from St. John Chrysostom in Dilexi Te:
“What advantage does Christ gain if the sacrificial table is laden with golden vessels, while he himself dies of hunger in the person of the poor? Feed the hungry first, and only afterward adorn the altar with what remains.”
"It is very cold and the poor man lies in rags, dying, freezing, shivering, with an appearance and clothing that should move you. You, however, red in the face and drunk, pass by. And how do you expect God to deliver you from misfortune?... You often adorn an unfeeling corpse, which no longer understands honor, with many varied and gilded garments. Yet you despise the one who feels pain, who is torn apart, tortured, tormented by hunger and cold.”
St. Augustine explains that anyone with Christ in them is charitable to others
“Observing your brothers and sisters, you know if they are in need, but if Christ dwells in you, also be charitable to strangers.”
Pope Leo XIV followed his vocation to the priesthood within the Augustinian Order. In Dilexi Te, he draws on the wisdom of St. Augustine to illustrate an example of how Christians should be behaving not just towards their friends, but towards complete strangers.
St. Benedict of Norcia on welcoming the poor without exception
“The poor and pilgrims are to be received with all care and hospitality, for it is in them that Christ is received.”
Pope Leo praised St. Benedict of Norcia for his rule that "would become the backbone of European monastic spirituality": all are to be received with hospitality.
"These were not just words: for centuries Benedictine monasteries were places of refuge for widows, abandoned children, pilgrims and beggars," wrote Pope Leo. This mentality even continues to this day, he said, as "a sign of a Church that opens its doors, welcomes without asking and heals without demanding anything in return."
