World Mission Sunday is the Holy Father’s annual appeal for spiritual and financial support so that the life-giving work of overseas mission and missionaries can continue. It will be celebrated next weekend on Sunday 19th October.

Missionaries desperately need our help. In many poorer parishes in Africa, Asia, and Latin America missionaries are serving on the front line. They already do so much, walking hand-in-hand with marginalised communities, long before and after any emergency. You can show missionaries you care by supporting World Mission Sunday. Our prayers and generosity will change lives.

World Mission Sunday message of Pope Leo XIV

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On World Mission Sunday every year, the whole Church prays, united, particularly for missionaries and the fruitfulness of their apostolic labours.

When I served as a missionary priest and then bishop in Peru, I saw first-hand how the faith, the prayer and the generosity shown on World Mission Sunday can transform entire communities.

I urge every Catholic parish in the world to take part in World Mission Sunday. Your prayers, your support will help spread the Gospel, provide for pastoral and catechetical programs, help to build new churches, and care for the health and educational needs of our brothers and sisters in mission territories.  As we reflect together on our baptismal call to be “missionaries of hope among the peoples,” let us commit ourselves anew to the sweet and joyful task of bringing Christ Jesus our Hope to the ends of the earth. Thank you for everything you will do to help me help missionaries throughout the world.  God bless you all!