The Australian Cardijn Institute recently hosted a powerful webinar exploring Pope Leo XIV’s first apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te (“I Have Loved You”). Catholic Social Teaching specialist Fr. Bruce Duncan, CSsR, offered a compelling reflection on the document, which builds on the legacy of Pope Francis and reaffirms the Church’s mission to walk in solidarity with the poor and marginalised.
Continuing Francis’ Legacy
Pope Leo XIV has embraced and expanded Francis’s vision, drawing on his Latin American pastoral experience. Dilexi Te is deeply personal, echoing Jesus’ words and expressing God’s intimate love for each person. It bridges spiritual devotion with social responsibility, challenging Catholics to integrate faith with transformative action.
Faith and Justice: An Inseparable Bond
A central theme is the inseparability of Christian faith and social justice. Pope Leo critiques the privatisation of religion and calls on all Christians to rediscover the Gospel’s radical call to care for the poor, sick, and marginalised. He insists that poverty is not accidental but the result of unjust structures—and that Christians must respond with both charity and systemic change.
A Historical Witness
Two-thirds of Dilexi Te traces the Church’s historical commitment to the poor—from early Church Fathers like John Chrysostom and Augustine to religious orders dedicated to health, education, and social care. Pope Leo reminds us that this tradition is central to the Church’s identity, quoting Augustine: “Anyone who says they love God and has no compassion for the needy is lying.”
See-Judge-Act and Synodality
The exhortation affirms the See-Judge-Act method championed by Joseph Cardijn and widely adopted in Latin America. This approach underpins synodality, calling for grassroots discernment, dialogue, and action. Fr Duncan highlighted how this method has shaped Latin American ecclesial communities and offers a model for renewal in Australia.
Challenges for the Australian Church
Participants raised concerns about the Australian Church’s readiness to embrace this vision. While some parishes and dioceses are moving forward, others remain hesitant or under-resourced. The discussion highlighted the need for increased lay involvement, particularly from professionals who can leverage their expertise to drive structural change.
Letting the Poor Speak
Anita Marsh reminded us that the poor are often spoken about but rarely heard. True solidarity requires creating platforms where those in distress can speak for themselves and be agents of their own development. This echoes Pope Leo’s call for the Church to be a “tent” that welcomes all and listens deeply.
A Call to Action
Fr Duncan concluded that Dilexi Te is not just a theological reflection—it is a call to action. Pope Leo urges Christians to move beyond comfort and complacency, to engage with the world’s suffering, and to build a more just and fraternal society. As Leo writes: “I ask Jesus Christ to inspire us to journey together towards a just, solitary, and fraternal world.”
The Australian Cardijn Institute hosted a webinar on Zoom on 23 October 2025.
Watch the webinar recording.