Pope Leo will release “Dilexi Te,” his first apostolic exhortation, on October 9

Pope Leo’s first text, “Dilexi Te,” which is scheduled for distribution on October 9, will place a strong focus on spiritual regeneration and empathy for the underprivileged.

On October 9, Pope Leo will publish his first significant text, an apostolic exhortation called “Dilexi Te” (which translates to “He loved you”), according to the Vatican. This publication is anticipated to provide insight into the new pontiff’s vision for the Catholic Church, which has 1.4 billion members.

Pope Leo formally signed the document on Saturday, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, a saint from the 13th century who is revered for his humility, love to the poor, and respect for nature, the Vatican announced.

Dilexi Te is anticipated to highlight concern for the world’s impoverished, mirroring the late Pope Francis’ long-standing support for the underprivileged, according to Vatican sources. Additionally, Francis’ final encyclical, “Dilexit Nos” (“He loved us”), published in October 2024, is thematically consistent with the title choice.

A literary effort that Francis started but left undone before his death in April, which ended his 12-year papacy, will be completed by Pope Leo’s next book, officials disclosed.

Leo, the first American to be elected pope, has expressed a wish to uphold Francis’ compassion and simplicity. He made history in May. His choice to complete and publish Dilexi Te on the feast day of St. Francis is seen as a symbolic act of compliance with the goals set forth by his predecessor.

Known for his humility and criticism of global economic institutions that failed to provide for the most disadvantaged members of society, Pope Francis was the first pope to adopt the saint’s name. He encouraged Catholics to abandon the “mad pursuit” of wealth in his final encyclical, Dilexit Nos, which placed more emphasis on faith and spiritual devotion than financial prosperity.