Pope Francis has urged missionaries and the faithful worldwide to renew their commitment to evangelization through prayer, which he described as the key to keeping hope alive and spreading the light of Christ. In his 2025 World Mission Day Message, released by the Holy See Press Office on Thursday, Pope emphasized that prayer is the primary missionary activity and the first strength of hope.

The 99th edition of World Mission Day will be observed on October 19, 2025, with the theme: “Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples.” Pope explained that this theme reminds both individual Christians and the Church as a whole of their fundamental vocation to be messengers and builders of hope.

Pope Francis invited all believers to follow in the footsteps of Christ, saying that they should feel inspired to become signs and messengers of hope in every place and circumstance.

He encouraged missionaries to continue their work with faith and dedication, thanking them for their commitment to spreading the Gospel. He described their lives as a clear response to the command of the risen Christ, who sent his disciples to evangelize all peoples.

Pope noted that by responding to this call, Christian communities become harbingers of a new humanity in a world that is facing deep social and moral challenges, particularly in developed nations where loneliness, indifference, and materialism have weakened human relationships.

Pope Francis underscored that the foundation of missionary work is prayer, which keeps alive the spark of hope and fuels actions of charity and evangelization. He reflected on how prayer can transform hope into a great fire that enlightens and warms everyone around us.

He called for a renewed focus on prayer based on the Word of God, particularly the Psalms, which he described as a great symphony of prayer whose composer is the Holy Spirit.

Highlighting that missionary work is a communal effort, Pope urged all Catholics, regardless of age, to actively participate in the Church’s evangelizing mission. He called on children, young people, adults, and the elderly to contribute through their witness of life, prayer, sacrifices, and generosity.

Pope Father entrusted the mission of the Church and the upcoming Jubilee Year 2025 to Mary, Mother of Christ our Hope, encouraging the faithful to seek her intercession for guidance and strength in their missionary calling.

Pope Francis concluded by expressing his hope that World Mission Day 2025 would be a time of grace for the Church, inspiring all believers to embrace their missionary identity with renewed zeal, prayer, and acts of love.