Leo XIV: “The Church is entirely missionary. Migrants, you are always welcome”

Prevost presided over Mass in St Peter's Square for the Jubilee of the Missions and Migrants. “Today, the frontiers of mission are no longer geographical”. At the Angelus: remembrance of the Palestinian people who are suffering “immense suffering”; “significant steps forward in peace negotiations”. Closeness to the Philippines affected by the earthquake.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Despite the bad weather, about 40,000 people gathered in St Peter's Square this morning for Holy Mass on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Missions and Migrants. At the end, before reciting the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV addressed them: ‘You are good missionaries because you came even in the rain! Thank you! The Church is entirely missionary.’ He added: ‘No one should be forced to leave, nor exploited or mistreated because of their condition of need or foreignness! Human dignity always comes first!’

Prevost also greeted a group of faithful from Bethlehem, Palestine, ‘who are carrying the statue of the Virgin of Revelation.’ The Pope's thoughts are with the tormented Holy Land. ‘I continue to be saddened by the immense suffering endured by the Palestinian people in Gaza,’ he said. But his ‘concern’ is also for ‘the rise of anti-Semitic hatred in the world, as we have unfortunately seen with the terrorist attack in Manchester.’ In the attack, which took place at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Orthodox synagogue on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, three people died, including the attacker, and three were seriously injured.

Condolences also came from the British royal family. Leo XIV also recalled the ‘significant steps forward in the peace negotiations’ coming from the ‘dramatic situation in the Middle East,’ with Hamas accepting some points of Trump's plan, such as the release of Israeli hostages, albeit with some reservations.

‘I hope that the desired results will be achieved as soon as possible,’ said the Pope. ‘I ask all those responsible to commit themselves to this path, to cease fire and to release the hostages, while I urge everyone to remain united in prayer, so that the ongoing efforts may bring an end to the war.’ The goal, Prevost hopes, is ‘a just and lasting peace.’

The Pope renewed his invitation to pray for peace during the month of October. ‘A prayer that becomes concrete solidarity with the populations ravaged by war. Thanks to the many children around the world who have committed themselves to praying the Rosary for this intention. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!’ he added. Leone XIV also expressed solidarity with the Filipino people, who were hit last week by a strong earthquake, especially in the central region, particularly around Cebu. "I express my closeness to the dear Filipino people, and in particular I pray for those who are most severely affected by the consequences of the earthquake. Let us remain united and supportive in our trust in God and in the intercession of His Mother in every danger,‘ he said.

In his homily, dedicated to the Jubilee of the Missionary World and Migrants, the Pope emphasised the opportunity to ’revive in us the awareness of our missionary vocation". This consists in ‘the desire to bring the joy and consolation of the Gospel to all, especially to those who are experiencing a difficult and wounded history.’ Among those who suffer from painful experiences are migrants, ‘who have had to leave their homeland, often leaving their loved ones behind, going through nights of fear and loneliness, experiencing discrimination and violence first-hand.’

‘The whole Church is missionary,’ said Prevost. ‘The Spirit sends us to continue Christ's work in the peripheries of the world, sometimes marked by war, injustice and suffering.’ He announced the opening of ‘a new missionary era’ in the Church. It does not consist in the meaning of mission associated with “leaving” for ‘distant lands.’ ‘Today, the frontiers of mission are no longer geographical, because poverty, suffering and the desire for greater hope are coming towards us.’

Reminding us of this movement ‘towards us’ are migrants, ‘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 coast, their cry of pain and despair.’ ‘Brothers and sisters,’ added the Pope, ‘those boats hoping to sight a safe harbour in which to stop and those eyes full of anguish and hope seeking dry land on which to land cannot and must not encounter the coldness of indifference or the stigma of discrimination!’

‘It is not so much a question of “leaving” as of “staying” to proclaim Christ through welcome, compassion and solidarity,’ continued Prevost, recalling the missionaries and the many believers who work to promote a ‘new culture of fraternity on the issue of migration, beyond stereotypes and prejudices.’ This is a commitment that ‘challenges each of us’ and requires ‘two great missionary commitments: missionary cooperation and missionary vocation,’ said the Pope.

‘I ask you to promote renewed missionary cooperation among the Churches.’ In Western societies, ‘the presence of so many brothers and sisters from the South of the world must be seen as an opportunity.’ He added: "I would also like to recall the beauty and importance of missionary vocations. I address myself in particular to the European Church: today there is a need for a new missionary impetus, for lay people, religious and priests who offer their service in mission lands.‘ ’To migrants, on the other hand, I say: you are always welcome! The seas and deserts you have crossed are, in Scripture, “places of salvation”," he added.