Discover the Message for the 99th World Missionary Day
Recently, the message for the 99th World Missionary Day on October 19th was released, where Pope Francis urges the Church to persevere in the work of evangelization even in the face of persecutions and the “imperfections and falls due to the weaknesses of individual members.” The invitation is to use proximity, especially where technological development enhances individualism, and to let the excluded also teach us how to live with hope.
In a world that shows “serious symptoms of a crisis of the human” in the most advanced societies, living the Gospel in community can restore to us “an intact, healthy, redeemed humanity”; here, Christian communities can be a sign of a “new humanity.” This is the essence of Pope Francis’ message titled “Missionaries of Hope Among the Nations” for the 99th World Missionary Day 2025, which will be celebrated on October 19th, as announced today.
Even Amid Persecutions, Imperfections, and Falls, Let the Church be Missionary
Pope Francis references the encyclical “Fratelli tutti” to encourage living a new evangelizing season of the Church, under the guidance of the Spirit “sent to revive hope in a world overshadowed by dark shadows.” Jesus “has become the divine Missionary of hope – writes the Pope – the supreme model of those who throughout the centuries carry out the mission received from God even in extreme trials” and “still bends over every poor, afflicted, desperate person oppressed by evil,” emphasizes the Pontiff. Encouraging all the baptized, disciples-missionaries of Christ, to make His hope shine in every corner of the earth, he adds:
“The Church, the community of the disciple-missionaries of Christ, extends this mission, offering life for all among the nations. Despite having to face, on the one hand, persecutions, tribulations, and difficulties, and on the other hand, its imperfections and falls due to the weaknesses of individual members, it is constantly driven by the love of Christ to proceed united with Him on this missionary journey and to gather, like Him and with Him, the cry of humanity, indeed, the groan of every creature awaiting definitive redemption.”
We Are Interconnected, But We Are Not in Relationship
The Pope further highlights what he calls a “widespread sense of disorientation, loneliness, and abandonment of the elderly, difficulty in finding readiness to help those around us,” particularly in the most “developed” societies technologically. A trend that generates, observes the Pontiff, a lack of proximity:
“We are all interconnected, but we are not in relationship. Efficiency and attachment to things and ambitions lead us to be centered on ourselves and incapable of altruism. The Gospel, lived in community, can restore us to an intact, healthy, redeemed humanity. I therefore renew the invitation to carry out the actions indicated in the Jubilee Bull, with particular attention to the poorest and weakest, the sick, the elderly, those excluded from the materialistic and consumeristic society. And to do so with God’s style: with closeness, compassion, and tenderness, taking care of the personal relationship with brothers and sisters in their concrete situation. Often, then, it will be they who teach us to live with hope.”
Prayer is the First Missionary Action, Remembering Van Thuan
“Faced with the urgency of the mission of hope today – the papal message continues – the disciples of Christ are called first to train themselves to become artisans of hope and restorers of a humanity often distracted and unhappy.” It encourages to pay particular attention to the “Easter spirituality” from which to draw the necessary strength for evangelization. Because, emphasizes Francis, Christians are reborn people, “people of spring.” And here, the figure of the venerable Cardinal Van Thuan is remembered, who kept hope alive in the long tribulation of prison precisely thanks to the support received in persevering prayer and the Eucharist.
“Let us not forget that praying is the first missionary action and at the same time ‘the first force of hope.'”
Belonging to the Church, Never a Reality Acquired Once and for All
The Pope concludes by emphasizing the importance of praying with the Psalms, which, he recalls, educate us to hope in adversity, to discern the signs of hope, and to have a constant missionary desire. He specifies that in modern society, “belonging to the Church is never a reality acquired once and for all.” Therefore, missionary action is a work that “requires communion of prayer and action.” And he delivers a collective invitation:
“I insist again on this synodal missionary nature of the Church, as well as on the service of the Pontifical Mission Societies in promoting the missionary responsibility of the baptized and supporting the new particular Churches. And I urge all of you, children, young people, adults, the elderly, to actively participate in the common evangelizing mission with the testimony of your life and with prayer, with your sacrifices and your generosity.”
