During his address to representatives of the Pontifical Mission Societies, Pope Leo XIV invites the entire Church to participate in World Mission Sunday. Pope Leo also recalls longtime National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, Venerable Fulton Sheen, who will be beatified in September, as a "light of faith, hope, and love," noting, "I myself am a witness of his evangelization when I was growing up."
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
"On World Mission Sunday, every Catholic community is invited to pray and offer spiritual and material sacrifices for the missionary efforts in areas of first evangelization and the support of young Churches."
Pope Leo XIV expressed this when welcoming those participating in the General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the Vatican on Monday.
The Holy Father began his address retracing their rich history and recalling the Societies' meaningful contribution to the Church and throughout the world for several decades, and recalling that 2026 marks several missionary milestones for PMS, especially the hundredth anniversary of establishing, at the request of the Pontifical Society of the Propagation of the Faith, the penultimate Sunday of October as World Mission Sunday by Pope Pius XI.
"For one hundred years," Pope Leo observed, "this day has been set apart for prayer, reflection, and contributing to the Church’s mission of evangelization, especially in areas where the proclamation of the Gospel is only just beginning and where the Church is still young."
"If I might add," Pope Leo said, "one of the particular services of World Mission Sunday is to remind people in the older churches, if you will in the established churches, how important it is that they too join in the missionary spirit of the whole Church."
Impact of generosity on World Mission Sunday
Thanks to the funds raised on World Mission Sunday, the Holy Father noted, the Pontifical Society of the Propagation of the Faith can provide necessary help to the over 1,130 ecclesiastical circumscriptions that depend on the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, to help them establish necessary ecclesiastical infrastructures and support diverse missionary initiatives.
He also recalled that the funds support the administration of five colleges in Rome for the ongoing formation of priests, and consecrated women and men, who come to Rome for studies and "become precious resources for their local Churches to which they return after completing their studies."
"These and many more missionary initiatives are possible thanks to the generosity of the faithful on World Mission Sunday," he said.
'One in Christ, united in mission'
The Pope recalled that the theme for this year’s World Mission Sunday - One in Christ, united in mission - highlights the unity of believers and marks the 100th anniversary of this global celebration.
The theme, he stated, "invites all of the members of the Church to a deeper communion in Christ and to a fuller unity in his divine mission of love" and "reflects the profound desire of the Lord expressed in his prayer to the Father before his Passion."
Noting that these aspects expressed in this year’s theme "call for a missionary renewal in the Church in the years ahead," Pope Leo encouraged those gathered to "keep this teaching in mind, to live an authentic spirituality of missionary unity and communion centered on Christ, and to promote it through your activities among the faithful."
Venerable Fulton Sheen was light of hope, faith and love
Pope Leo also said that it was "providential" that a "renowned National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States of America, the Venerable Fulton J. Sheen," will be beatified on 24 September in St. Louis, Missouri.
"Archbishop Sheen," Pope Leo recalled, "was a light of faith, hope, and love that shone through the radio and television media for decades. I myself am a witness of his evangelization when I was growing up."
"His broadcasts," he continued, "touched millions with the hope of the Gospel and his initiatives and efforts resulted in enormous spiritual and material aid to the churches in areas of first evangelization."
The Pope prayed the soon-to-be Blessed "be an example for all of the National and Diocesan Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies throughout the world."
Invaluable service to Church's mission
In a special way, the Pope underscored the importance of their work in a war-torn world.
In a world increasingly marked by division, war and conflict among nations and peoples, the four Pontifical Mission Societies, entrusted to the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, render an invaluable service to the Church’s mission of proclaiming Christ, the Prince of Peace.
In this regard, the Pope thanked the Pontifical Mission Society of the Holy Childhood for carrying out "a particularly precious mission by bringing the light of faith and the consolation of Christian charity to children throughout the world, especially in regions afflicted by hatred and violence."
The Holy Father also commended the Pontifical Mission Society of Saint Peter the Apostle for promoting and sustaining the formation of indigenous clergy and consecrated religious in territories of first evangelization.
"In many places, without the assistance of this Society," he acknowledged, "seminarians and novices would lack the necessary means for their human, spiritual and pastoral formation."
Pope Leo XIV concluded by entrusting all before him and all who share in the Pontifical Mission Societies' "vital missionary work," to the maternal intercession of the Mother of God, Mary, Queen of Missions, and that of all the missionary saints.
