On a rainy day in Rome, which gradually opened up to allow the Pope to go out in the popemobile to greet the more than thirty thousand pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope revolutionized the concept of "mission".
In the homily At the final Mass of the Jubilee of the Missionary World and Migrants, while praising "cooperation and the missionary vocation", Leo XIV said that "today a new missionary epoch is opening in the history of the Church".
He explained this during the Mass, concelebrated by Cardinals Michael Czerny S.J., prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development, and Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.
Mission boundaries: no longer geographical
"For a long time we have associated mission with "leaving", going to distant lands that had not known the Gospel or were in situations of poverty". "Today the frontiers of mission are no longer geographical, because it is poverty, suffering and the desire for greater hope that come to us," the Pontiff explained.
The story of many of our migrant brothers and sisters testifies to this, he continued, "the drama of their flight from violence, the suffering that accompanies them, the fear of not making it. The risk of dangerous crossings along the coasts of the sea, their cry of pain and despair".
"Those boats hoping to catch sight of a safe harbor in which to stop and those eyes full of anguish and hope looking for a solid land to reach," he said, "cannot and must not encounter the coldness of indifference or the stigma of discrimination."
"Remaining to open our arms and hearts to them."
Consequently, said the Successor of Peter, "the question is not to "leave" but rather to "remain" in order to proclaim Christ through hospitality, compassion and solidarity. To remain without taking refuge in the comfort of our individualism. To remain in order to look in the face of those who arrive from distant and suffering lands. To remain in order to open our arms and hearts to them, to welcome them as brothers and sisters, to be for them a presence of consolation and hope".
In his homily, in which he quoted Pope Francis, Benedict XVI and St. Paul VI, he recalled that the entire Church is missionary. And it is urgent - as Pope Francis affirmed - that he 'go out to proclaim the Gospel to everyone, in every place, on every occasion, without delay, without disgust and without fear' (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 23)".
Sometimes God is silent, he seems "absent".
The Pope, recalling the "migrant brothers", war, injustice and suffering, quoted Benedict XVI at Auschwitz. So many times in history God has been asked why he does not intervene, why he seems absent: "God is silent, he seems so distant, so forgetful, so absent..." (Catechesis September 14, 2011).
But the Lord's response, however, opens us to hope, Leo XIV stressed. "There is a life, therefore, a new possibility of life and salvation that comes from faith. For faith not only helps us to resist evil by persevering in the good, but transforms our existence to the point of making it an instrument of the salvation which God still wishes to bring about in the world."
Philippines, "anti-Semitic hatred" (Manchester)
In the AngelusThe Pope appealed to "human dignity" by recalling "our missionary and migrant brothers and sisters".
He has shown solidarity with the Filipino people, hit by a strong earthquake in Cebu and nearby islands.
And he expressed his concern about "the rise of anti-Semitic hatred in the world, as unfortunately seen in the terrorist attack in Manchester, perpetrated a few days ago".
The attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Judaism. The attacker, shot down by police, rammed his car into a crowd and stabbed the two Jews, has reported Cindy Wooden, CNS.
"Enormous suffering of the Palestinian people": united in prayer.
He also assured "the enormous suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza", which continues to cause him pain. "In these last hours, in the dramatic situation in the Middle East, some significant steps are being taken to advance the peace talks. I hope that they can achieve the expected results as soon as possible. I ask all those responsible for the commitment to continue on this path, with the cease-fire and the release of the hostages".
"At the same time I urge everyone to remain united in prayer, so that the efforts being made can put an end to the war and lead us towards a just and lasting peace."
Supplication to Our Lady of the Rosary
Finally, he said, "we unite ourselves spiritually with all those who have gathered at the Shrine of Pompeii for the Supplication to Our Lady of the Rosary. In this month of October, contemplating with Mary the mysteries of Christ the Savior, we intensify our prayer for peace. A prayer that becomes concrete solidarity with the populations devastated by war. Thank you to the many children throughout the world who have committed themselves to pray the Rosary for this intention. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Español 
English 
Italiano