Vatican City: In a heartfelt celebration at Saint Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to rekindle a conscious awareness of their missionary vocation, emphasizing that it stems from a deep desire to “bring the joy and consolation of the Gospel to everyone,” particularly those enduring hardship and, above all, migrants forced to leave their homelands. Addressing the thirty thousand pilgrims gathered for the Mass for the Jubilee of the Missions and of Migrants, the Pope highlighted both the Church’s missionary calling and the imperative of solidarity toward displaced and vulnerable communities.
In his homily, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the interconnection of missionary outreach, charity, and fraternity. He reminded the faithful that living a missionary life means reaching out to those in difficulty and embodying the Gospel’s promise of hope and consolation. Speaking of migrants, he underscored the hardships they face: leaving loved ones behind, enduring fear and loneliness, and confronting discrimination and violence. “Our migrant brothers and sisters traverse perilous paths, often in search of safety and dignity,” he observed, urging the Church to respond with compassion and practical support.
Quoting Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium, the Holy Father reaffirmed that “the entire Church is missionary” and called for fearless proclamation of the Gospel to all, especially in the world’s peripheries where war, injustice, and suffering persist. Pope Leo stressed that faith and hope in the Gospel can transform lives and serve as instruments of salvation in the modern world, offering consolation and reinforcing the bonds of human solidarity.
Highlighting the present era as a new missionary age, the Pope noted that mission today extends beyond geographical boundaries. Poverty, suffering, and the search for hope have brought human need closer to us, exemplified by the plight of migrants risking their lives in hazardous journeys. “Those boats seeking a safe port, and eyes filled with anguish and hope, must never encounter cold indifference or the stigma of discrimination,” he warned, emphasizing that mission involves both active outreach and compassionate presence.
Pope Leo XIV also spoke on the importance of missionary cooperation among Churches and the nurturing of missionary vocations. Encounters with brothers and sisters from the Global South, he said, offer a unique opportunity to renew the Church and cultivate a Christianity that is more dynamic, open, and alive. He particularly highlighted the need to inspire young people in Europe toward missionary service, stressing innovative approaches and vocational experiences that draw the laity, religious, and clergy to serve in mission territories.
Concluding his homily, the Pope extended his blessing to missionaries, local clergy, and those discerning vocations, while assuring migrants of a warm welcome. “The seas and deserts you have crossed are places of salvation where God makes Himself present,” he said, invoking Mary’s intercession so that all may become co-workers in Christ’s Kingdom of love, justice, and peace.
This Mass, Pope Leo XIV’s message reaffirmed the Church’s unwavering commitment to a world-wide missionary mandate, grounded in charity, fraternity, and unwavering solidarity with the most vulnerable.