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Pope Leo XIV signs first apostolic exhortation, ‘Dilexi te’

Pope Leo XIV signs his first apostolic exhortation, “Dilexi Te,” at the Vatican on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV on Oct. 4 signed the first apostolic exhortation of his pontificate, the text of which is expected to be released next week. 

The Vatican said in a press release that Leo signed the exhortation Dilexi Te (“I Have Loved You”) in the library of the Apostolic Palace. The Holy See did not reveal the text of the document, which it said will be presented on Oct. 9 by the Holy See Press Office. 

The focus of the document was also not officially announced, though it is reportedly expected to focus on the poor. It was signed on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

The signing of the document took place in the presence of Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, substitute for general affairs of the Secretariat of State, the Vatican said.

This article was originally published on Catholic News Agency.

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Daniel Payne

Daniel Payne is a senior editor at Catholic News Agency. He previously worked at the College Fix and Just the News. He lives in Virginia with his family.

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