Pope Leo’s first encyclical urges defense of migrants

Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical, 'Dilexi te,' on Oct. 9, 2025, centering the Catholic Church’s mission on serving the poor and defending migrants and refugees, and directly exhorting bishops to champion social justice. He also sent a separate message to Catholic Charities USA praising its work and urging continued service as 'agents of hope' despite a federal funding freeze, a stance that intersects U.S. debates as the Trump administration ramps immigration enforcement.