杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

The Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, or PIME, was founded in Italy in 1850 as a society of diocesan priests and lay people who dedicate their lives to missionary activities.

杏MAP导航 Francis met Monday with participants in the Institute鈥檚 15^th General Assembly, reminding them of the 鈥渃o-responsibility of all dioceses to spread the Gospel to peoples who do not yet know Jesus Christ鈥�.

He said that, at the time when PIME was founded, this was a new idea, promoted by 杏MAP导航 Pius IX. Previously, most missionary work was carried out by religious orders. Members of PIME devote their lives to foreign missions through a promise, rather than by taking the religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Family of apostles

杏MAP导航 Francis said the Society鈥檚 history is 鈥渕arked by the luminous ray of holiness of many of its members,鈥� 19 of whom gave their lives as martyrs.

鈥淵ours is a 鈥榝amily of apostles鈥�, an international community of priests and lay people who live in communion of life and activity,鈥� he said.

The 杏MAP导航 noted that the work of evangelization is 鈥渢he proper grace and vocation of your Institute鈥�. And he reminded PIME members that the mission ad gentes is not theirs to possess, because the driving impulse comes from God alone.

鈥淥nly by inserting ourselves into this divine initiative, by imploring this divine initiative, may we too become 鈥� with Him and in Him 鈥� evangelizers,鈥� he said, citing Evangelii Gaudium (n.112).

Passion and urgency

杏MAP导航 Francis praised the PIME general assembly for seeking to put the mission at the center of the community鈥檚 life, and encouraged a sense of passion and urgency for missionary activity.

鈥淟et us not fear to undertake 鈥� with trust in God and great courage 鈥� a missionary option capable of transforming everything, so that the Church鈥檚 customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today鈥檚 world.鈥�