In this first document of his papacy, Pope Leo issues a call to all Christians to walk in the footsteps of Christ, who took on the poverty of our human condition; and to walk in the footsteps of countless men and women throughout the history of the Church who have expressed their love for God in and through their loving service to their neighbor by caring for the sick, freeing those bound, educating, clothing, and accompanying those who are least among us. The Pope reminds Christians, “The same Jesus who tells us, ‘The poor you will always have with you’ (Mt 26:11), also promises the disciples: ‘I am with you always’ (Mt 28:20). Likewise, he says: ‘Just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me’ (Mt 25:40). This is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, he continues to speak to us” (Dilexi Te, 5).

Dilexi Te is an eloquent reminder that our love for God and our deepest convictions need to be expressed in concrete action. “Christian love breaks down every barrier, brings close those who were distant, unites strangers, and reconciles enemies. It spans chasms that are humanly impossible to bridge, and it penetrates to the most hidden crevices of society” (Dilexi Te, 120).