Pope Leo XIV calls for global support ahead of World Mission Sunday
Pope Leo XIV has released a video message calling on Catholics worldwide to support World Mission Sunday, which will be observed on October 19, 2025. In the video, the Pope urges Catholics to offer prayers and donations for 1,124 mission territories across Asia, Africa, Oceania, the Pacific Islands, and Latin America. These regions are described as places where the Church is young and sometimes faces poverty or persecution.
“Help me help the missions,” Pope Leo XIV says in his appeal. He highlights that these mission areas are where “the Gospel is alive and taking root.” The message draws on his personal experience: “When I served as a missionary priest and bishop in Peru, I saw firsthand how the faith, prayer, and generosity shown on World Mission Sunday can transform entire communities,” he states. “I urge every Catholic parish in the world to take part in World Mission Sunday.”
The video is available in English, Spanish, and Italian with subtitles in French and Portuguese. It is intended for wide distribution among parishes, dioceses, religious communities, and lay Catholics throughout the United States and internationally.
World Mission Sunday is notable as it is mandated by Canon Law (Can. 791) to be held annually in every parish globally. The collection is overseen by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith—a Pontifical Mission Society—and supports efforts such as forming seminarians and catechists, supporting religious sisters’ missionary work, providing healthcare through clinics, maintaining orphanages and homes for elderly people, and building new churches.
This year’s theme—“Missionaries of Hope Among the Peoples”—was chosen by Pope Francis before his death. Under Pope Leo XIV’s leadership—who spent most of his ministry working in mission territory—the theme now carries additional significance.
Catholics are encouraged to share Pope Leo XIV’s message through their communities or online platforms; further resources are available at www.pontificalmissions.org/wms.
