Pilgrims in St. Peter's Square at the Angelus Pilgrims in St. Peter's Square at the Angelus  (Vatican Media)

Pope calls for prayers for Ukraine, recalls World Mission Day

Speaking after the Angelus, Pope Francis recalls that today is World Mission Day, and he encourages us to support missionaries with prayer and concrete solidarity. He also invites us to pray for peace in Ukraine and in the world, noting that he will participate in an interreligious prayer for peace on Tuesday at Rome's Colosseum.

By Vatican News staff writer

 

In his words following the recitation of the Angelus prayer on Sunday, Pope Francis said that on Tuesday 25 October he will go to Rome's Colosseum to pray for peace in Ukraine and in the world, together with representatives of the Christian Churches and Communities and world religions. The moment of prayer will take place in conjunction with the "Cry of Peace” meeting taking place these days.

“I invite you to join spiritually in this great invocation to God: prayer is the strength of peace. Let us pray, let us continue to pray for martyred Ukraine.”

"You shall be my witnesses"

Sunday 23 October marks World Mission Day with this year's theme “You shall be my witnesses,” said the Pope. And this day marks "an important opportunity to reawaken in all baptized persons the desire to participate in the universal mission of the Church, through witness and the proclamation of the Gospel."

“I encourage everyone to support missionaries with prayer and concrete solidarity, so that they may continue their work of evangelization and human promotion throughout the world.”

In his message for World Mission Day 2022, the Pope says, "I continue to dream of a completely missionary Church, and a new era of missionary activity among Christian communities."

 

Be courageous witnesses to Christ

Finally, the Pope also recalled that yesterday, Vicente Nicasio Renuncio Toribio and eleven companions of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists), killed in hatred of the faith in Spain in 1936, were beatified in Madrid.

“The example of these witnesses of Christ, who even shed their bled, spur us to be consistent and courageous; may their intercession sustain those who strive today to sow the Gospel in the world.”

He invited everyone in the Square to give their applause for the new Blesseds.

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23 October 2022, 14:32