EVANGELIZATION: RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF GOD

VATICAN CITY, JUN 7, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was John Paul II's annual Message for World Missionary Day, which will be celebrated next October 21, in which the Holy Father recalls that evangelization is "the responsibility of all the people of God."

"He who has truly encountered Christ," writes the Pope in the Message dated June 3, solemnity of Pentecost, "cannot keep Him for himself, he must announce Him. A new apostolic impetus is needed which is lived as a daily commitment of Christian communities and groups."

The Holy Father emphasizes that "in a special way, the call to mission acquires singular urgency, if we look at that portion of humanity which still does not know or recognize Christ. Yes, dear brothers and sisters, the mission 'ad gentes' is today more valid than ever."
After recalling the missionaries - priests, men and women religious and laity - "who have made the mission 'ad gentes' and 'ad vitam' the reason of their very existence," John Paul II affirms that their example "is a stimulus and support for all the faithful" adding: "Also today many men and women, with their dedication and their sacrifice, are for us an eloquent manifestation of the love of God."

"Mission demands prayer and concrete commitment. Many are the needs involved in the extensive diffusion of the Gospel. This year is the 75th anniversary of the institution of the Missionary Day by Pope Pius XI. ... Since then, the Missionary Day constitutes a special occasion for reminding all the People of God of the permanent validity of the missionary mandate."

The Pope concluded his Message by expressing the hope that this anniversary will be "a propitious occasion for reflecting on the necessity of a greater communal effort in promoting the missionary spirit and in procuring the essential material helps which the missionaries need."

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