He will require the fullest commitment of your whole being to the spreading of the Gospel and to the service of his People. If the Lord calls you to leave your own country and go to other peoples, other cultures, other ecclesial communities, respond generously to his invitation. Every believer is called to cooperate in spreading the Gospel and to live the mission spirit and activity in the free gift of self to his brothers and sisters. May Mission Sunday be for all Christians a great opportunity to prove our love for Christ and for our neighbour. May it also be a suitable time to realize that each of us must see that prayers, sacrifice and concrete support for the missions, the outposts of the civilization of love, are not lacking.
Every missionary project is inspired by the Holy Spirit, who brings it to fulfilment.
As I encourage and bless all those actively engaged in missionary activity, my thoughts go in particular to those responsible for the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, whose task it is to organize this Day, and to those who work in the other Pontifical Mission Societies, indispensable structures of formation for co-operation and precious instruments for supporting all missionaries, equally and attentively. May Mary, Queen of Evangelization, sustain and guide the precious work of the Gospel labourers and give Christians ever new joy and enthusiasm to proclaim Jesus Christ by their words and with their lives. To all of you, as a comfort in your respective duties in the service of the Gospel, I send a special Apostolic Blessing.