Dilexi Te Young Adults Reading Group
Reflection written by Chris Knowles, Programme Manager, Bon Secours Young Adults GB
Over six weeks a group of young adults came together to explore Dilexi Te, Pope Leo’s first teaching document which focused on our love for the poor. The opportunity to explore the document together and share our own reflections on the text, enabled by Bon Secours Young Adult Ministry and Million Minutes, helped us engage with the document at a much deeper level.
Dilexi Te, an Apostolic Exhortation published by Pope Leo in October 2025 but started by Pope Francis before his death, focuses on how central the poor are to the Church, both its mission and its identity. “I often wonder”, Pope Leo laments, “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.” This document challenges both the wider Church to take Christ’s call to serve the poor seriously, but also each and every individual, that each, according to their own ability need to take this commitment seriously and not leave it to others.
Twenty people came, whenever they were able, each Thursday night for 75 minutes over a six week period having engaged with the chapter being explored that week. As rich and deep as the conversations were, there was plenty of opportunity to keep things light and build relationships with others who also cared about the Church’s mission in this area.
Joe Wells, Co-Founder of One Hope Project, a project of young adults encouraging creativity in music and other areas of ministry said “Joining the Dilexi Te reading group was a real blessing. As I read through the book, I found myself both inspired and challenged. Having the opportunity to unpack the content together online and hear the insights of others helped me to reflect even more deeply on Pope Leo’s writing. I’m involved in music ministry in the Church and undertake projects that help people to lead music and engage with it as a way of praying and encountering God. Following this reading group, I feel inspired to think more deeply about how our work can be a blessing to those on the margins and a place of encounter with the poor.”
The relationships built through the course of the six weeks have led the group to want to meet again, to both take on Magnifica Humanitas with a wider group of young adults, and come together in person to deepen relationships and explore how we God is calling us to bring to life the calls Pope Leo is giving us.
If there are those in their 20’s and 30’s interested in going deeper into where Pope Leo is calling the Church, reach out, stay in touch and keep eye out for upcoming opportunities!