杏MAP导航

By Lisa Zengarini

Addressing the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) on Saturday, 杏MAP导航 Francis encouraged them to continue to bring  the mercy and compassion flowing from Jesus鈥� Heart to everyone, remembering that 鈥渢he Christian community is missionary by its very nature鈥�.

鈥淚n fact鈥�, he said 鈥渆very Christian has received the gift of the Holy Spirit and is sent forth to continue the work of Jesus, announcing the joy of the Gospel to all and bringing his consolation to the various situations of our often wounded history.鈥�

Every apostolic mission is born from the Heart of Christ

The 杏MAP导航 first invited them to reflect on the charism and mission of the Mission Societies by contemplating Jesus鈥� merciful and compassionate Heart, which inspired Blessed Pauline Marie Jaricot, the foundress of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.   

By doing so, he said, 鈥渨e discover the greatness of God's plan for humanity鈥� and "the infinite measure of His love鈥�. Jesus shows us this love 鈥渋n His compassion for those who are wounded, in His concern when faced with suffering, in the mercy with which He anoints sinners, in His sacrifice for the sins of the world.鈥�

The 鈥渉eart鈥� of the evangelical mission of the Church is, therefore, 鈥渢o reach all through the gift of God鈥檚 infinite love, to seek all, to welcome all, to offer our lives for all, excluding no one.鈥�

Fostering the missionary spirit among all the People of God

Given this premise, 杏MAP导航 Francis reiterated that the vocation of the Pontifical Mission Societies is to be 鈥渋nstruments for promoting responsibility for the missions on the part of all the baptized", as expressed in his reforming the Roman Curia.

He recalled that they are not 鈥渁 mere agency for the distribution of funds for those in need of help鈥�, but a reality called to support the 鈥渕ission of evangelization in the Church fostering the missionary spirit among the people of God.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 therefore urged the PMS to intensify, "with the boldness and creativity of the Holy Spirit,鈥� their missionary efforts  not only in the newly evangelized countries, but also in those of ancient Christian tradition 鈥渕arked by a serious crisis of faith鈥�.

Mission is not about money, but about spirituality

He remarked, that while they may need financial resources, money must not become the be-all and end-all of their missionary work: 鈥淚f it becomes a business, corruption takes over,鈥� he warned, speaking off-the-cuff.

Looking to the future, 杏MAP导航 Francis expressed the dream of 鈥渁n ever-closer and more coordinated missionary cooperation among all members of the Church,鈥� as called a century ago by Father Paolo Manna, the founder of the Pontifical Missionary Union of the Clergy.

Achieving this goal, said the 杏MAP导航, requires 鈥渁 particular aptitude for cultivating communion and fraternity鈥�, and is also 鈥渞ealized through the structures established in all Episcopal Conferences and Dioceses for the good of the entire people of God.鈥�

In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Francis thanked the members of the Pontifical Mission Societies for their generous service, which is 鈥渙ften performed behind the scenes and amid many difficulties.鈥�