The Holy Father invites us to a concrete and organized closeness to those most in need, in the Vincentian spirit, promoting evangelization, formation, and integral care of the poor, as St. Vincent de Paul taught.
The Holy Father emphasizes that caring for the poor has always been a beacon in ecclesial tradition, recalling how “Jesus himself proclaimed at the beginning of his public ministry: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives” (Lk 4:18). The early Christians, even in precarious conditions, prayed for and assisted their brothers and sisters who were prisoners, as the Acts of the Apostles (cf. 12:5; 24:23) and various writings of the Fathers attest” (DT, n. 59).
This approach is entirely in line with the Vincentian spirit, whose motto“Evangelizare pauperibus misit me” reflects the mission to evangelize and serve those most in need.
Guided by the parable of the Good Samaritan, it invites Christians to pause in the face of others’ suffering, recognizing in each person the dignity of a brother or sister in Christ (paras. 105-106). Far from the indifference of today’s society, the Gospel demands active compassion and daily commitment: “Go and do likewise” (Lk 10:37) (par. 107), a principle that St. Vincent de Paul embodied by organizing concrete help and spiritual formation for the poor.
Leo XIV recalls St. Gregory the Great, who taught that the poor are presented to us as a call to humility and justice. He also warns that wealth can blind us and make us believe that we can do without others, while the poor, as “silent teachers”, bring us back to humility and, through their witness, even evangelize us (par. 109).
This emphasis on the evangelizing capacity of the poor is deeply connected to the Vincentian charism: for St. Vincent de Paul, the poor were not only people in need of help, but also teachers of faith and Christian life.
The Holy Father reminds us that the preferential option for the poor is not a recent concept, but a constant in the Church’s tradition (par. 110). The poor are the “flesh of Christ” and, therefore, the heart of the Church is intrinsically in solidarity with those who are poor, excluded, and marginalized, often considered “discarded” by society. From faith in Christ, who became poor and was always close to those in need, springs concern for the integral development of the most abandoned (paras. 111, 123).
The Pope emphasizes the importance of almsgiving as a gesture of closeness and encounter with those in need: “I would like to close by saying something about almsgiving, which nowadays is not looked upon favorably even among believers” (par. 115). Far from replacing social justice or the state’s responsibility, this action allows us to touch the suffering flesh of Christ and cultivate active piety (paras. 117-119).
Complementarily, the exhortation recalls how many consecrated women, following the example of St. Vincent de Paul, played a fundamental role in the healthcare of the poor. The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, along with the Hospital Sisters, the Little Sisters of Divine Providence, and other women’s congregations, established a maternal and discreet presence in hospitals, nursing homes, and residences for the elderly. They provided medicine, listening, presence, tenderness, and built healthcare facilities in areas without medical assistance, taught hygiene, attended births, and administered medicine with natural wisdom and deep faith (para. 51).
The exhortation also addresses new forms of poverty: material, social, moral, spiritual, and cultural (paras. 9-10, 13). It highlights the need for education, accompaniment of migrants and refugees, and care for the sick, emphasizing that every human being is a child of God and that the Church acts as a mother who welcomes, protects, promotes, and integrates (paras. 51, 72, 75).
Finally, Leo XIV concludes that Christian love is unlimited and prophetic, capable of breaking down barriers, reconciling enemies, and bringing those who are distant closer together (par. 120). Pope Leo XIV’s first apostolic exhortation reminds us that true faith is measured in acts of charity and closeness to those most in need. In this vein, the example of St. Vincent de Paul and his Congregation serves as a beacon for the Church today: ideas and doctrines are not enough; what is required is a daily, generous, and practical commitment to those who constitute the flesh of Christ in our world.
