Vatican City: In a stirring address to the Pontifical Mission Societies gathered in Rome for their General Assembly, Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the Church’s divine mission to proclaim the Gospel to all corners of the world. Speaking with the conviction of a shepherd and the heart of a missionary, the Holy Father declared, “Christ is our Saviour, and in Him, we are one family.”

The Pope praised the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies, calling them the "primary means" through which missionary responsibility is awakened among the faithful. Recalling his own experience as a missionary in Peru, he expressed deep personal gratitude, saying, “I can personally attest” to the power of their witness and service.

With joyful urgency, Pope Leo invoked the spirit of Pentecost, likening today’s Church to that early community driven by the Holy Spirit — moving forward with trust, joy, and courage to share the saving truth of the Gospel. “Our world,” he observed, “scarred by conflict, violence, and injustice, yearns for the healing message of God’s love and the reconciling grace of Christ.”

He emphasized the critical role of various societies under the Pontifical umbrella:

The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, which supports churches, healthcare, and education in mission territories;

The Society of the Holy Childhood, dedicated to children's spiritual and physical well-being;

The Society of Saint Peter the Apostle, fostering priestly and religious vocations;

And the Missionary Union, which equips clergy and laity alike for the Church’s evangelizing mission.

In urging National Directors to prioritize grassroots engagement, Pope Leo encouraged visits to dioceses, parishes, and local communities to kindle missionary awareness where the Church is young and growing. “Foster in every baptized person,” he urged, “a deep sense of missionary discipleship and the urgency to bring Christ to all.”

With heartfelt emphasis, he reminded the assembly that their work supports World Mission Sunday — a global moment of unity and generosity for the Church’s farthest outposts — and thanked them for their tireless efforts.

Before closing, Pope Leo reflected on two key dimensions of the Societies’ identity: communion and universality. Rooted in the mystery of the Holy Trinity, he said, “we find our unity.” Quoting Saint Augustine’s words that guide his own papal ministry — “In Illo uno unum” (“In the One, we are one”) — he called on the Church to live as one spiritual family across languages, cultures, and nations.

He concluded by calling every Christian to become a “missionary of hope,” especially in light of the approaching Holy Year. Entrusting the Societies to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he sent them forward with a renewed purpose: to proclaim the Gospel of peace and the richness of life in Christ to all the peoples of the earth.