Pope Leo XIV Urges Every Parish to Join World Mission Sunday

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

(Source: Vatican News)

Pope Leo XIV has called on every Catholic parish worldwide to take an active part in World Mission Sunday, to be celebrated on October 19, stressing how the generosity shown that day sustains the vital work of missionaries across the globe.

In a video message for the occasion, the Holy Father said, “I urge every Catholic parish in the world to take part in World Mission Sunday.”

World Mission Sunday is observed annually on the second-to-last Sunday of October. This year’s celebration focuses on the theme: Missionaries of Hope among the Peoples.

The Pope reminded the faithful that the day unites the entire Church in prayer for missionaries and for the fruitfulness of their apostolic work.

“When I served as a missionary priest and bishop in Peru,” Pope Leo recalled, “I saw first-hand how the faith, prayer, and generosity shown on World Mission Sunday can transform entire communities.”

The Holy Father invited all parishes to contribute through prayer and financial support, noting that such acts of solidarity “help spread the Gospel, provide for pastoral and catechetical programmes, build new churches, and care for the health and educational needs of our brothers and sisters in mission territories.”

He encouraged the faithful to renew their missionary commitment, saying, “This October 19, as we reflect on our baptismal call to be missionaries of hope among the peoples, let us commit ourselves anew to the sweet and joyful task of bringing Christ Jesus, our Hope, to the ends of the earth.”

Pope Leo concluded his message with gratitude for the support of Catholics everywhere, saying, “Thank you for all that you do to help me support missionaries throughout the world,” before imparting his Apostolic Blessing.