I am writing this note on Thursday, October 9, 2025. I woke up to my social media feeds blowing up with news that Pope Leo XIV has written his first pastoral exhortation entitled "Delexi Te" (I Have Loved You). 

Quick note on papal documents. An exhortation is an important statement from the pope, but carries less weight than other church documents such as a decree, a bull, or a an encyclical, all of which have a greater circle of review than an exhortation. Even at that, these types of statements pale in their import when compared to synodal documents, council documents, and ex cathedra statements from the pope which are considered infallible. The later categories bear the designation of doctrine and/or dogma. 

A comparison in the United States would be if a president makes an executive order. It has strong bearing on governance, but is not treated the same as a law passed by congress and upheld by the courts. 

I assume that I am an outlier in the community and that your social media feed did not function like mine today. They may have, but because I regularly dialogue and consume church-related material online, it is no surprise that when the pope says something, I get multiple sources reporting it to me. Presuming that you do not have the same experience, I'd like to use this venue to share with a quick overall insight and then some direct quotes from Pope Leo XIV. 

The big take away might be that Pope Leo XIV is not recoiling into a comfortable space where we can rest easy as Catholics. There is no coddling to our American sensibilities which celebrates a culture of wealth and individual gain. Some might have hoped that he would be an advocate for one side of the political aisle or the other. He is not. His side is Christ's side and that is a side our culture and politics rarely embrace. 

Specifically, Pope Leo in his first exhortation has reminded us that care for the poor and care for the immigrant is a constitutive responsibility of a Christian. While the Catholic Church has long taught that countries have a right to protect their borders and does not tolerate criminal violence, is it undeniable that the Pope has a strong stance against the way the United States (and countries around the world) are treating immigration. He is reminding us, this isn't just his opinion and a difference of politics. This isn't a case where "you do you and leave me out of it." He has placed our defense and care for immigrants as an essential component of authentically encountering Christ. 

If you feel uneasy about what is happening in our city as increased raids round up migrants, your feelings are united with Christ's petition to us to be doers of mercy and live in the righteousness of God. But rather than having me as mediator in this conversation, let me just share a few key quotes from Pope Leo's exhortation. I will pray for all of us that his words will helps us all find the way to respond with love to the chaallenges of our times. 

From Delexi te by Pope Leo XIV:

"No Christian can regard the poor simply as a societal problem; they are part of our family... They are one of us."

"I can only state once more that inequality is the 'root of all social ills.'"

"I often wonder, even though the teaching of Sacred Scripture is so clear about the poor, why many people continue to think that they can safely disregard the poor."

"Where the world sees threats, she [the Church] sees children; where walls are built, she builds bridges. She knows that her proclamation of the Gospel is credible only when it is translated into gestures of closeness and welcome. And she knows that in every rejected migrant, it is Christ himself who knocks at the door of the community."

"God has a special place in his heart for those who are discriminated against and oppressed, and he asks us, his Church, to make a decisive and radical choice in favor of the weakest."

... there is much more in this extraordinary statement from the Pope, but I leave you to meditate on these words and if your ponder and prayer leads you to read more from Dilexi Te, you can find the full exhortation at https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/apost_exhortations/documents/20251004-dilexi-te.html 

Parents are Partners- don’t miss this!

Saint Andrew School, in partnership with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Cook County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), will be holding a virtual presentation on October 15th at 7pm: Protecting Kids Online: A Virtual Safety Event. This presentation is designed to provide parents with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. More details will follow next week.

Programming for Infants and Toddlers

Tell your friends and neighbors about our programming for our youngest bulldogs. Baby Bulldogs is a music and movement playgroup for infants and toddlers. Bulldog Buddies is a class for 2-year-olds that offers an engaging curriculum along with the opportunity to experience our school setting in a safe, nurturing environment with their caregivers. This is a great opportunity for members of our community to experience Saint Andrew. 

Discover the Difference with Saint Andrew School! 

Are you seeking a nurturing and enriching educational environment for your child? Look no further than Saint Andrew School, where Catholic Education comes to life through faith, excellence, and community. Our dedicated faculty inspires students to achieve their full potential academically, spiritually, and socially. At Saint Andrew, we blend rigorous academics with character-building values, fostering a sense of purpose and belonging. Experience our vibrant campus, where every student is known, loved, and challenged to grow. Choose Saint Andrew School today and invest in a brighter future for your child. Enroll now and join our family! We have an upcoming tour on October 14th at 9am. Sign up for a tour here: schedule a tour New student applications for the 25-26 can be found here: New Student Application