Faith, Justice, and Encounter: Webinar Explores Dilexi Te and the Call to Love the Poor

A recent national webinar brought together theologians, pastoral leaders, and members of the wider faith community to reflect on Dilexi Te (“I Have Loved You”), a new apostolic exhortation completed by Pope Leo XIV and begun under Pope Francis. Hosted by the Jesuit Forum, the session offered a timely and thought-provoking exploration of the Church’s call to love the poor through an Ignatian lens. 

The webinar opened with a land acknowledgement and prayer, grounding the conversation in gratitude, humility, and a commitment to justice. Participants from across Canada were invited to reflect on their own relationship to the land and to Indigenous communities, setting a tone of attentiveness and reverence. 

Director Trevor Scott introduced the theme of the session, highlighting the exhortation’s central message: that love for the poor is not optional, but essential to Christian faith. Rooted in the Gospel, Dilexi Te calls the Church to embody a “poor Church for the poor,” where care for the marginalized becomes the heart, not the periphery, of its mission. 

Leading the theological reflection were Sr Susan Wood SCL, a professor of systematic theology at Regis College, and Jesuit Fr Peter Bisson SJ, a longtime leader in faith and justice initiatives in Canada. Together, they offered complementary insights into the document’s spiritual and practical implications. 

Sr Wood provided a clear overview of the exhortation, emphasizing its grounding in Christ’s personal love. She noted that the document reframes Catholic social teaching by placing relationship, rather than policy, at its centre. “This is not just about structures or strategies,” she explained. “It is about responding to a love that has first been given to us.” 

She also highlighted the document’s expansive understanding of poverty, which includes not only material deprivation but also social exclusion, cultural marginalization, and spiritual fragility. In doing so, Dilexi Te challenges readers to recognize the many faces of poverty present in today’s world. 

Fr Bisson SJ, drawing on Ignatian spirituality, deepened this reflection by describing social justice as a form of religious experience. “We encounter Christ in the poor,” he said, “and that encounter transforms us.” He shared examples from Jesuit history, including their work in reconciliation with Indigenous communities in Canada, to illustrate how authentic relationships, rather than abstract ideas, lead to conversion and renewal. 

A key theme that emerged throughout the discussion was the shift from seeing the poor as objects of charity to recognizing them as subjects, partners, teachers, and agents of change. Both speakers emphasized that genuine solidarity requires friendship, accompaniment, and mutual transformation. 

Participants also explored the tension between efficiency and love. Referencing the Gospel story of the anointing at Bethany, Sr Wood noted that love is often “wasteful” in the best sense, freely given and not bound by calculation. This “prodigal love,” as described in the session, stands in contrast to a culture that prioritizes productivity and measurable outcomes. 

The conversation turned, too, toward the role of joy in social justice work. While acknowledging the challenges and suffering inherent in working with marginalized communities, Fr Bisson suggested that a deeper, quieter joy emerges from encountering Christ in these spaces. “If Jesus is there,” he said, “there will be joy, even if it is not immediately visible.” 

In the closing discussion, participants raised questions about ecological justice, referencing earlier teachings such as Laudato Si’. The speakers affirmed that care for the earth and care for the poor are inseparable, even if not equally emphasized in this particular document. 

Overall, the webinar offered a rich and hopeful vision of Christian discipleship, one rooted in love, grounded in relationship, and oriented toward justice. As Dilexi Te continues to shape conversations within the Church, events like this invite individuals and communities to respond not just with ideas, but with transformed lives. 

For those seeking to deepen this journey, the Jesuit Forum encourages ongoing reflection, dialogue, and engagement, reminding all that the call to love the poor is ultimately a call to encounter Christ anew. #

(All photos are from Susan Wood presentation)