“Dilexi Te” also addresses educators directly, stating that “Pope Francis recalled that education has always been one of the highest expressions of Christian charity” and that “for the Christian faith, the education of the poor is not a favor but a duty.”
John Staud, executive director of the Alliance for Catholic Education, said the exhortation “grounds the mission of Catholic education not merely in benevolence, but in justice, dignity and hope.”
“Pope Leo’s words remind us why Catholic education matters so deeply, not only to the Church but to the world,” Staud said. “Catholic schools are sacred places where children encounter Christ, grow in wisdom and learn to see the image of God in themselves and in others.
“This new exhortation renews our call to ensure that every child, especially those most in need, has access to a school that forms both the mind and the heart. In doing so, we honor the Church’s enduring commitment to justice, mercy and human dignity.”
Staud noted that Pope Leo himself is a product of Catholic school formation from his Catholic grade school in Chicago and beyond. Pope Leo, Staud said, “understands through lived experience how Catholic schools nurture both mind and spirit.
“In the United States, Catholic schools have historically served as bridges for children of all backgrounds to grow in faith while contributing to their communities,” he said. “Although the past 50 years have seen many U.S. Catholic schools close, global Catholic school enrollment has tripled — a sign that this mission remains instrumental to the flourishing of society.
“As we look to the future, Pope Leo’s words portend a renewed emphasis for his papacy on education, equity and formation. This document signals that the Church under his leadership intends to emphasize education as foundational to the Church’s mission, not as an optional ministry, but as a core form of service to the poor and to society. For those of us in Catholic education, we are called now to listen deeply, to act faithfully and to affirm the dignity of every child.”