Pope Leo XIV will release his first official document as pontiff on October 9. The apostolic exhortation, titled Dilexi Te (“He loved you”), is expected to focus on the plight of the world’s poor and marginalized.

The Vatican confirmed that the document was formally signed on October 4, coinciding with the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, a saint revered for his humility, care for the poor, and love of nature. The timing and title of the document echo Pope Francis’ final encyclical, Dilexit Nos (“He loved us”), published in October 2024.

According to Vatican officials, Dilexi Te completes a writing project initiated by Pope Francis but left unfinished before his death in April. Pope Leo, elected in May as the first American pope, has chosen to honor and extend Francis’ legacy by finalizing the text and making it his own.

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