The Catholic Church celebrates the 100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday on October 18, and in his message to mark the occasion, Pope Leo XIV has expressed his gratitude for missionaries around the world and reflected on the Church’s deep commitment to mission.
For the Divine Word Missionaries, this milestone for the global Church closely follows the 150th anniversary celebrations of their own foundation by St Arnold Janssen, which took place last year.
As the Vatican Christmas tree and Nativity Scene adorned a St Peter’s Square filled with faithful this week, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the importance of Advent as a time of preparation to welcome the birth of Christ.
He offered the encouragement in his various greetings to pilgrims from different language groups during the Wednesday General Audience on December 17.
As I write this message, we are still celebrating the election of a new pope, Pope Leo XIV, following the death at Easter time of Pope Francis.
It is wonderful to note that Pope Leo is a missionary, from the Augustinian order, and in his first address to the crowds in St Peter’s Square he called for a missionary Church.
