The Holy Father, Pope Francis has sent a video message to mark the beginning of the work being done at the General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies. The assembly is taking place this week at the Domus di Sacrofano Fraternity in Rome.
Dear brothers and sisters,
With this brief message, I wish to present an important reality for the mission of the Church, but few people know of it: the Pontifical Mission Societies.
From the earliest times, the reciprocal support between local Churches, impregnated with the proclamation and witness of the gospel, has been a sign of the universal Church. In fact, the Church's mission - which is enlivened by the Spirit of the risen Lord - expands the spaces occupied by faith and charity to the ends of the earth.
In the nineteenth century, the proclamation of Christ received a new impulse when the Mission Societies were founded, with the specific task of praying and acting concretely in order to support evangelization in new territories. These Societies were recognized as Pontifical by Pope Pius XI, who in that way wished to point out how the mission of the Church toward all people is very much at the heart of the Successor of Peter. And it still is! Today, the Pontifical Mission Societies continue this important service that began almost 200 years ago. They are present in 120 countries with National Directors, coordinated by an International Secretariat that is located at the Holy See.
Why are the Pontifical Mission Societies important? They are important first of all because we must pray for missionaries, for the evangelizing actions of the Church. Prayer is the first missionary work - the first one! - which every Christian can and should undertake, and it is also the most efficient, even if it cannot be measured. In fact, the principal agent of evangelization is the Holy Spirit, and we are called to work with Him. Moreover, these Societies guarantee in the name of the Pope an equal distribution of aid so that all the Churches throughout the world might have a minimum of assistance for their evangelizing work, for sacraments, for their own priests, for seminarians, for pastoral work and for catechists. This support helps missionaries who evangelize, above all with prayer, so that the Holy Spirit may be present. He is the one who does the work of evangelization.
Therefore I encourage everyone to work together in this, our common task of proclaiming the gospel and of supporting the young Churches through the work of these Missionary Societies. In this way, in every people, the Church continues to open herself to all people and to proclaim joyfully the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.
Thank you all, with all my heart!
Video Message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
addressed to Pontifical Mission Societies
Dear brothers and sisters,
With this brief message, I wish to present an important reality for the mission of the Church, but few people know of it: the Pontifical Mission Societies.
From the earliest times, the reciprocal support between local Churches, impregnated with the proclamation and witness of the gospel, has been a sign of the universal Church. In fact, the Church's mission - which is enlivened by the Spirit of the risen Lord - expands the spaces occupied by faith and charity to the ends of the earth.
In the nineteenth century, the proclamation of Christ received a new impulse when the Mission Societies were founded, with the specific task of praying and acting concretely in order to support evangelization in new territories. These Societies were recognized as Pontifical by Pope Pius XI, who in that way wished to point out how the mission of the Church toward all people is very much at the heart of the Successor of Peter. And it still is! Today, the Pontifical Mission Societies continue this important service that began almost 200 years ago. They are present in 120 countries with National Directors, coordinated by an International Secretariat that is located at the Holy See.
Why are the Pontifical Mission Societies important? They are important first of all because we must pray for missionaries, for the evangelizing actions of the Church. Prayer is the first missionary work - the first one! - which every Christian can and should undertake, and it is also the most efficient, even if it cannot be measured. In fact, the principal agent of evangelization is the Holy Spirit, and we are called to work with Him. Moreover, these Societies guarantee in the name of the Pope an equal distribution of aid so that all the Churches throughout the world might have a minimum of assistance for their evangelizing work, for sacraments, for their own priests, for seminarians, for pastoral work and for catechists. This support helps missionaries who evangelize, above all with prayer, so that the Holy Spirit may be present. He is the one who does the work of evangelization.
Therefore I encourage everyone to work together in this, our common task of proclaiming the gospel and of supporting the young Churches through the work of these Missionary Societies. In this way, in every people, the Church continues to open herself to all people and to proclaim joyfully the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.
Thank you all, with all my heart!
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