Society
Of The Divine Word

A Call to Structural Conversion, Fraternal Welcome, and Seeing the Poor as Protagonists
During the presentation, speakers offered rich theological and pastoral reflections on the Church’s mission toward the poor.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J. emphasized that poverty is not merely a social reality but “a theological place of encounter with God.”

He described “the face of the poor as an epiphany of the Kingdom of God,” urging a conversion of unjust structures rather than reliance on isolated acts of charity. Education, Eucharist, and service, he noted, are essential paths for promoting human dignity and peace.

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski reflected on the pastoral dimension of mercy, calling Church communities to go beyond material aid and create genuine “places of welcome” where the poor are treated as brothers and sisters. “Our hands must carry not only bread but dignity,” he said.

Fr. Frédéric-Marie Le Méhauté linked Dilexi te with the Franciscan tradition, reminding the Church that the poor are not merely recipients but protagonists with their own wisdom, capable of renewing both society and faith.

He urged a shift in perspective to see the poor as collaborators in the Church’s mission.

Sr. Clémence shared a powerful testimony from her years living among Roma women in Italy, describing how their resilience and faith became her “spiritual teachers.” She echoed the Pope’s call to see the poor as a “sacramental presence” of Christ and to help build “a new civilization where the poor are welcomed as brothers and sisters.”

Summary of the Exhortation
The Apostolic Exhortation unfolds in five chapters, combining theological depth, historical reflection, and pastoral guidance on the Church’s love for the poor:

• A Few Essential Words – Opens with the Gospel scene of the woman anointing Jesus in Bethany, underlining that every act of love for the poor consoles Christ Himself. The Pope denounces both old and new forms of poverty, urging cultural and structural conversion that truly hears “the cry of the poor.”
• God Chooses the Poor – Traces God’s preferential love for the poor throughout Scripture and Jesus’ life of poverty. Mercy toward the poor is presented as the measure of authentic faith and worship.
• A Church for the Poor – Recalls the witness of saints, Church Fathers, and religious communities who placed the poor at the heart of Christian life—seeing them as “treasures of the Church.”
• A History that Continues – Highlights modern Catholic social teaching and the Church’s response to contemporary inequalities, affirming the poor as subjects and protagonists of their own history and faith.
• A Constant Challenge – Calls for ongoing personal and communal conversion, inspired by the parable of the Good Samaritan, to make Christ’s love tangible for every person in need.

The Mission of the SVD: Walking with the Poor
The message of Dilexi te deeply resonates with the SVD’s missionary identity and commitments, particularly as articulated in the 19th General Chapter document “Your Light Must Shine Before Others (Mt 5:16): Faithful and Creative Disciples in a Wounded World.”

In this document, the poor are not simply beneficiaries of missionary activity but are described as “our companions and teachers on the journey of faith.” The SVD commits itself to “discovering the face of Christ in the poor” and walking with them in mutual transformation.

This vision calls Divine Word Missionaries to respond through:

• Prophetic dialogue with the marginalized;
• Advocacy and structural conversion, not just charity;
• Community presence among the poor, especially in wounded and forgotten places;
• Learning from the poor, recognizing their wisdom, resilience, and agency in God’s mission.

Through education, health care, parish ministry, intercultural living, and social engagement, SVD missionaries across the world embody the call of Dilexi te to build a Church that is poor, for the poor, and with the poor.

“Reality is better seen from the margins, and the poor are given a particular intelligence indispensable to the Church and humanity,” the exhortation declares.

A Call to Conversion “With the Poor”
Released in the context of the Jubilee Year 2025, Dilexi te invites the entire Church to rediscover the heart of the Gospel through closeness to the poor.

For the SVD, this is not a new path but a renewed confirmation of its mission: to walk humbly and faithfully with the poor, allowing their lives and struggles to evangelize us and to make God’s love visible in a wounded world.

“Each person in difficulty should be able to hear individually: ‘I have loved you.’ This is the promise and our compass,” Pope Leo XIV concludes.