Pope grants plenary indulgence for 100th World Mission Sunday

Pope grants plenary indulgence for 100th World Mission Sunday

Through the Apostolic Penitentiary, Pope Leo XIV has granted a plenary indulgence on the occasion of the 100th World Mission Sunday, established by Pope Pius XI in 1926 and celebrated today, Sunday, October 18. This year’s theme is “One in Christ, United in Mission.”

At today’s Angelus, the Pope said: “Today we celebrate the 100th World Mission Day. Let us think of how much missionary history has unfolded over these one hundred years! Let us pray that the Church may always remain faithful to the mandate of the Risen Lord: “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation”

The Apostolic Penitentiary’s decree specifies that the indulgence can be obtained under the usual conditions: sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.

The faithful are also asked to pray the Rosary, in union with the Pope, for the spread of the Gospel throughout the world.

Papal message for World Mission Sunday

In his message for the 100th World Mission Sunday, released on January 25, Pope Leo urges “the whole Church to continue joyfully and zealously, in the Holy Spirit, along the missionary path, which requires hearts united in Christ, reconciled communities, and a willingness in everyone to cooperate generously and confidently.”

At the heart of the mission, the Pope identifies the “mystery of union with Christ”.

“Being Christian is not primarily a set of practices or ideas: it is a life in union with Christ, in which we are made participants in the filial relationship that He lives with the Father in the Holy Spirit,” the Pope emphasizes. He adds that the Church’s primary responsibility in its mission is to renew the spiritual and fraternal unity among its members.

Today, we are witnessing conflicts, polarization, misunderstandings, and mutual distrust, Leo XIV observes. He points out that when this happens within ecclesial communities as well, their witness is weakened.

Pope Leo therefore stresses that the evangelizing mission entrusted by Christ to His disciples requires “hearts that are reconciled and desirous of communion.” This means, the Pope says, that the proclamation of the Gospel is “always a collective, communal, and synodal undertaking.”