October is traditionally observed by Catholics around the globe as Mission Month. It is the month that unites Catholics worldwide in prayer, solidarity, and support for the Church’s missionary effort.
World Mission Sunday is celebrated on the second-to-last Sunday of October. The theme for 2025, in alignment with the theme of hope of the Year of Jubilee, is “Missionaries of Hope Among all Peoples.” It highlights our baptismal call to sow the hope of the Gospel among all the nations, and all peoples.
In 2025, World Mission Sunday will be celebrated on 19 October.
Pope Francis’ message for World Mission Day 2025
Missionaries of Hope
For World Mission Day 2025, Pope Francis chose the theme “Missionaries of Hope Among all Peoples.” In his message for the day, written earlier this year, he reminds all Christians that their fundamental calling is to be messengers and builders of hope in the footsteps of Christ, especially in a world facing darkness and uncertainty.
1. In the Footsteps of Christ Our Hope
Christ is the centre of history and the model of hope for humanity. Through his life, death, and resurrection, he showed complete trust in God’s plan and brought healing and consolation to those in need. The Church continues his mission of offering hope to the poor, the afflicted, and the oppressed, despite challenges and weaknesses. Christians are called to follow Christ’s example and make his hope visible wherever they live.
2. Christians as Bearers and Builders of Hope
Christians are called to share the Good News by being close to others in their real-life situations. Missionaries who go to other nations show this by living out Christ’s command to bring his love to all peoples. The hope of salvation is greater than material needs and points to eternal life with God. At the same time, Christians are invited to respond to today’s challenges – such as loneliness, indifference, and self-centredness – through community life, closeness, compassion, and tenderness, especially towards the poor, the sick, the elderly, and the excluded.
3. Renewing the Mission of Hope
Mission begins with prayer, which sustains hope and gives strength for action. Christians are called to live from the Paschal mystery – the death and resurrection of Christ – which assures that death and hatred are not the final word. Prayer, especially with the Psalms, keeps hope alive and inspires concrete gestures of love. Evangelisation is always a community process, continuing after Baptism through ongoing formation in faith. All the baptised – young and old – are urged to take part in the Church’s mission through prayer, witness, sacrifice, and generosity.
Mary, Mother of Hope
Pope Francis entrusts the mission of hope to Mary, Mother of Christ. He prays that the light of Christian hope will shine on every person as a message of God’s love, and that the Church will remain faithful in bearing witness to this hope throughout the world.
Resources for Mission Month
MissioNZ and MissioAotearoa are two New Zealand charities under the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS), a network of four distinct societies united in their mission to support the Pope in reaching out to communities and young churches through charity.
They have provided resources for parishes and communities to use during this Mission Month of October.
View some of their resources below, or find the original resources here.
