Pope Leo XIV in his own words
“Those inspired by true charity know full well that almsgiving does not absolve the competent authorities of their responsibilities, eliminate the duty of government institutions to care for the poor, or detract from rightful efforts to ensure justice.” (116)
SUMMARY
Pope Leo closes Dilexi Te urging us to model the compassionate solidarity of the Good Samaritan, who responds to each person as “a human being with a dignity identical to my own ...an image of God. That is what it is to be a Christian!” (106). The pope reminds us that Christians “cannot be limited to the private sphere” and must participate in our shared public life to alleviate suffering and its structural causes (112). With both direct assistance (charity) and organizing to transform systems (justice), we cooperate with God’s life-giving love. This is our call as followers of Christ, and as human beings.
Key Quotations
Reflection
Pope St. Paul VI called political action for the common good “one of the highest forms of charity.” The Catholic Sisters who founded NETWORK in 1971 understood this. They saw that ministering with struggling communities required not only offering direct aid but also working for policies that could transform an exploitive system. That’s why they called their work a “political ministry.” We live our Gospel call to do justice and love our neighbors by participating in our shared public life and advancing policies that protect our Earth, strengthen democracy, and deliver health care, housing, food, and more for all of us – together healing and nourishing our communities in the example of Christ.
Question
Call to mind past experiences of participating in direct service work (such as offering meals at a soup kitchen) and in justice work (such as joining a demonstration or contacting government officials about an issue). How do these experiences connect to your faith? How does God show up in your efforts to build a more loving world?