Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed focus on missionary discipleship

Recognizing the unity of all Catholics as members of the body of Christ, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the urgency of sharing the Gospel message. Addressing over 120 national directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies on May 22, he highlighted the importance of spreading God's love and welcoming others as brothers and sisters.

"Our world, wounded by war, violence and injustice, needs to hear the Gospel message of God’s love and to experience the reconciling power of Christ’s grace," said Pope Leo XIV during his meeting with mission society leaders. The societies operate under the Dicastery for Evangelization and include entities like the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and the Holy Childhood Association. They focus on raising awareness about foreign missions, educating Catholics about their missionary responsibilities, and supporting missions financially.

Pope Leo XIV underscored that these societies play a crucial role in evangelization. Reflecting on his past experience as a missionary in Peru, he remarked on their indispensability. "The work of the societies is indispensable to the church’s mission of evangelization," he stated.

He further stressed that promoting missionary awareness among Catholics aligns with church renewal efforts initiated by Vatican II. "Raising missionary awareness among all Catholics remains an essential aspect of the church’s renewal as envisioned by the Second Vatican Council," he noted.

Pope Leo urged national directors to prioritize visiting dioceses and communities to emphasize mission importance. He called for cultivating a vision of unity within the church community, inspired by St. Augustine's words: "In Illo uno unum" ("In the One (Christ), we are one").

"Christ is our savior and in him we are one, a family of God," Pope Leo concluded.