VATICAN – Pope Leo XIV on World Mission Day: “I saw first-hand how the faith, the prayer and the generosity can transform entire communities”

Vatican City – On the occasion of the 99th World Mission Day, on Sunday, October 19, Pope Leo XIV launched an appeal, released this morning through the Holy See Press Office, addressed to all parishes in the world to help support missionaries who are working in the remotest corners of the earth.
The Bishop of Rome emphasizes how World Mission Day, which next year celebrates its centenary, is a special day in which the whole Church unites in prayer for missionaries and for the fruitfulness of their apostolic labours. The Pope recalls his missionary experience in Peru: “When I served as a missionary priest and then bishop in Peru, I saw first-hand how the faith, the prayer and the generosity shown on World Mission Sunday can transform entire communities.” On 22 May this year, Pope Leo addressed the participants at the annual General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies, which are entrusted to the Dicastery for Evangelization . In recalling his pastoral experience during his years of ministry in South America, Pope Leo spoke with gratitude about the ‘indispensable’ service the Pontifical Mission Societies offer to the Church’s mission of evangelization .
In his video message, available in different languages on the Vatican.va and Vatican news websites, the Holy Father makes this appeal: “I urge every Catholic parish in the world to take part in World Mission Sunday. Your prayers, your support will help spread the Gospel, provide for pastoral and catechetical programs, help to build new churches, and care for the health and educational needs of our brothers and sisters in mission territories.”
Towards the end of his message for this 99th World Mission Day, Pope Leo XIV invites us to reflect together on our baptismal call to be “missionaries of hope among all peoples,” as the theme chosen by Pope Francis for this year reminds us.
“Let us commit ourselves anew to the sweet and joyful task of bringing Christ Jesus, our Hope, to the ends of the earth. Thank you for everything you will do to help me help missionaries throughout the world,” Pope Leo XIV concludes.

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