Pope Leo XIV says World Mission Sunday helped shape his missionary vocation

Pope Leo XIV has released a video message for the centenary of World Mission Sunday, known across the Spanish-speaking world as the Domund, which falls on October 18. In it he pays tribute to the day established by Pius XI 100 years ago and says the annual observance helped shape his own missionary vocation in the Order of St. Augustine. He invites all Christians to mark the anniversary under the theme "One in Christ, united in mission."

The pope gives thanks "for the abundant fruits God has poured out on the Church" since Pius XI created the day so that it "would encourage in every diocese and parish a deeper understanding of the great importance of the missionary task, fervent prayer for the work of evangelization, the promotion of missionary vocations and support for the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies."

World Mission Sunday in Leo XIV's own life

The pope says those aims were fulfilled in his own life too. "The prayers offered to the Lord of the harvest helped prepare my heart to hear Jesus' call to follow him as an Augustinian missionary," he says. He also thanks the faithful for "the prayers and contributions" that "encouraged and sustained my missionary work in Peru, as well as that of countless people throughout the world."

From 9.6 million to 346 million Catholics

The Pontifical Mission Societies, the Church's central agency for supporting the missions, report that over the past century the Catholic population in mission territories has grown from 9.6 million to 346 million. The number of parishes has risen from 627 in 1925 to 41,056 today. The societies attribute that growth to "the work and dedication of the local clergy and faithful, of hundreds of missionaries who set out to give their lives, and to the prayer, self-offering and generosity of so very many Catholics around the world during this century."

"One in Christ, united in mission"

The theme the pope has chosen for this year is "One in Christ, united in mission." He says it "invites us to reflect on the fundamental task of fostering the unity of the Church in following Christ, especially with our own obligation and responsibility to spread the saving message of the Gospel to all peoples."

Baptism makes each person a "member of the Body of Christ" with "a unique role in contributing to the saving work of Jesus," the pope says. "Our Lord calls us to work together as one family, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to bring everyone, everywhere, into a communion of faith in Christ." He tells the faithful: "Your prayers and your concrete support will be of great help in bringing the Gospel of God's love to all, especially the poorest and those most in need."

One hundred years on

The pope thanks "all those who have supported World Mission Sunday over the years" and repeats his "heartfelt gratitude" for their continued commitment. The faithful should "contribute, each according to his or her vocation and the gifts received, to the great mission of evangelization, which is always a work of love," he says.

The pope ends the message by blessing all those who work to keep World Mission Sunday's legacy alive: "May the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, descend upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen."