Bishop Alan McGuckian: Pope Leo’s first Apostolic Exhortation is a ‘call to action’

Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, the former Bishop of Raphoe, has described Pope Leo XIV’s first Apostolic Exhortation as a call to action.

Bishop McGuckian, who is now the Bishop of Down and Connor, is the Chair of the Council for Migrants, Refugees and Justice and Peace of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference.

On Friday morning in Rome, Dilexi Te - I Have Loved You was published. The first Apostolic Exhortation by Pope Leo XIV is addressed to all Christians, following from the last encyclical letter of the late Pope Francis. Pope Leo notes that much of the letter was prepared by Pope Francis in the final months of his life and that he is happy to make this document his own.

Bishop McGuckian, who served as the Bishop of Raphoe from 2017-2024, said: "Ultimately, this document speaks of love that becomes a mission, a mission that moves us from places of comfort to works of compassion and service in closeness with those who are poor.  

“Pope Leo speaks of us being ‘asked to enter into the heart of God, who is always concerned for the needs of his children, especially those in greatest need’.

"The Holy Father is very clear that in dealing with the various forms of poverty in our world today, we need to be committed to eliminating the structural causes of poverty and related inflictions.  He rightly notes that this cannot be delayed because ‘society needs to be cured of a sickness which is weakening and frustrating it and which can only lead to new crises’.”

Bishop McGuckian said that Dilexi Te - I Have Loved You provided a comprehensive overview of the Church’s teaching, tradition and practice in hearing and responding to the cry of the poor over the centuries, as well as a serious call to action in our own times.

The various forms of poverty in our world are referenced - from material poverty to loneliness and isolation, war, migration and indifference.  

Pope Leo also refers to the importance of caring for creation and its link to poverty and the vulnerable.  In addition, the spiritual poverty of our world is highlighted, noting that when we open ourselves to the poor and the suffering, we re-discover our own need for mercy and discipleship - to be poor with the poor.  

Bishop McGuckian said: "At the same time, the Pope states that no Christian can simply regard the poor as a societal issue alone.  The poor are part of us all, part of our Church family too and in need of accompaniment on our journey to eternal life.  

“In this regard, he reminds us of the words of Saint John Paul II who taught that 'the preferential option for the poor, namely the Church’s love for the poor, is essential for her and a part of her constant tradition, and impels her to give attention to a world in which poverty is threatening to assume massive proportions in spite of technological and economic progress.

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"Pope Leo speaks of Christian love breaking down barriers and bringing together those who are distant, uniting strangers and reconciling enemies.  The Church, he says, sets no limits to love and this is what our world needs today."