Pope Francis: now is the time for courageous evangelization

October 24, 2016

During his Angelus address on World Mission Sunday, Pope Francis presented St. Paul as a model of the missionary Church.

“The experience of the Apostle of the Gentiles reminds us that on the one hand, we must engage in pastoral and missionary activities as though the result depended on our efforts, with the spirit of sacrifice of an athlete who does not stop even when faced with defeat, and on the other, however, in the knowledge that the true success of our mission is a gift of grace,” the Pope told the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

“Today is a time of mission and a time of courage,” the Pope added, as he explained:

We are required to have the courage to fight, not necessarily to win; to proclaim but not necessarily to convert. We are required to have the courage not to conform to the world, without however becoming polemical or aggressive. We are required to have the courage to be open to all, never to diminish the absolute and unique nature of Christ, sole Savior of all.

We are required to have the courage to resist incredulity without arrogance. We are also required to have the courage of the publican in the Gospel today, he who with humility did not dare even raise his eyes to heaven, but instead beat his breast, saying: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

 

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Further information:

• Angelus Domini - 2016.10.23 (YouTube Vatican)
• Le parole del Papa alla recita dell’Angelus, 23.10.2016 (Holy See Press Office)
• Angelus: time of mission, time of courage, 23.10.2016 (Holy See Press Office)