By Javiera Navarrete

After reading the apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te by Pope Leo XIV on the love for the poor, I was deeply moved to reflect on its central message: that the poor hold a unique place in God’s heart—not as a symbol of weakness, but as a sacred space where humanity encounters the divine.

🕊️ The Poverty of Jesus as a Message

From the very beginning of the Gospel to the moment of His passion, the life of Jesus is marked by poverty and rejection. He was born without a place at the inn, fled with His parents to Egypt, was expelled from His own synagogue, and died outside the city walls. His story—from the manger to the cross—is a story of love offered for the salvation of all.

In his first apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te (October 4, 2025), Pope Leo XIV continues the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis, inviting us to rediscover the “privilege of the poor.” This is not a call to idealize suffering, but to recognize that in the vulnerability of poverty, we meet God’s heart. “The love of Christ,” the Pope writes, “urges us to be more attentive to the suffering and needs of others.”

The Meaning of the “Privilege of the Poor”

Throughout the history of the Church, this truth has endured: the poverty of Christ is a divine pedagogy that teaches humility and fraternity. The Fathers of the Church and the Popes of the twentieth century made this clear:

• To see the poor as Christ Himself.

• To love one’s neighbor, even to the point of personal sacrifice.

• To build a social order grounded in charity and justice.

The “privilege of the poor” is not a condition of inferiority—it is a position of spiritual dignity. Those who suffer and persevere become bearers of the Gospel’s light.

🌎 From Bethlehem to the Border: A Call for Our Time

Joseph and Mary fled to another land so their child could be born in safety. They did so out of love—without “papers.” Their journey mirrors that of countless migrant families today, moved by the same instinct for life and hope, seeking refuge and protection.

The Pope reminds us that welcoming the migrant is not merely an act of philanthropy; it is a Gospel response. As a Church, we are called to:

• Welcome without asking for documents.

• See migration as part of the path of salvation.

• Strengthen concrete works of charity that respond to exclusion both humanly and structurally.

Living Charity as Mission

In Dilexi Te, the Holy Father insists that charity is not a passing sentiment but a vital link between the Eucharist and Christian mission. To love one’s neighbor is to extend the living presence of Christ in the world.

Therefore, pastoral ministry must be centered on:

• Treating others without prejudice.

• Promoting tangible spaces of service and compassion.

• Forming hearts that love through action, not only words.

Conclusion: Love That Becomes Shelter

The exhortation Dilexi Te reminds us that Jesus’ poverty was not a sign of lack, but a chosen way to reveal the boundless love of God. In every migrant, every displaced family, and every forgotten soul, that same Christ still seeks a place to rest.

To imitate Joseph and Mary is to trust, to protect, and to accompany. It is to believe that what is best for the poor, the suffering, and the excluded is also what most pleases God. Only then can the Church truly become a home and a refuge. Only then does love of neighbor become a living testimony of the Gospel—for in the face of the poor, the privilege of those loved first by God continues to shine.

Pope Leo XIV, in Dilexi Te, reminds us that the heart of the Church must always beat in rhythm with the suffering of the poor and the displaced. His words speak powerfully to our times, inviting us not to look away from the faces of those who arrive at our borders seeking safety and hope.

As followers of Christ, we cannot remain silent before the pain of so many migrant families. The Gospel calls us to listen, to accompany, and to defend the dignity of every person—for in each of them, we encounter the living presence of Jesus Himself.

Pope Leo’s teaching urges the Church in the United States to be a sign of mercy and courage—a community that opens its doors and its heart. To love the poor, as he reminds us, is not an option but the very measure of our faithfulness to Christ. Only through this love will the Church truly become what she is meant to be—a home for all.