Pope Leo XIV placed the poor at the center of the Catholic Church's mission in his first major document as pontiff, urging bishops worldwide to champion social justice and defend migrants and the vulnerable.

Why it matters: The pope's call to defend "the least of these" thrusts the church at the forefront of global debates on inequality and migration, even as the Trump administration steps up immigration raids.

The big picture: The move echoes his predecessor, Pope Francis, who tied faith to social action, and a signal the new pope sees moral leadership in championing the poor, despite pushback from conservative Catholics like Vice President JD Vance.

Driving the news: In "Dilexi te" (I have loved you), Leo called for global support for immigrants, invoking the late Pope Francis' rebuke

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