Bishop Fernandes welcomes Pope Leo XIV’s first exhortation, DILEXI TE

Bishop Earl K. Fernandes and the Diocese of Columbus gratefully welcome Pope Leo XIV’s first exhortation of his pontificate, DILEXI TE.  

DILEXI TE, composed as a follow-up to the Encyclical DILEXIT NOS, was originally started by the late Pope Francis at the end of his life. The Encyclical focuses on the Church’s care for the poor and was completed by Pope Leo XIV after including some additional reflections.  

We as the Church are provided with a glimpse into how we should care for the poor as our Lord did, as is noted throughout the scriptures. Further, we must challenge some of our own ideological prejudices that can cause us to be indifferent to the suffering of others.  

[1] As we contemplate Christ’s love, “we too are inspired to be more attentive to the sufferings and needs of others and confirmed in our efforts to share in his work of liberation as instruments for the spread of his love.” [2]