22/10/23 2022년 제96차 전교 주일 교황 담화(2022년 10월 23일) - “너희는 나의 증인이 될 것이다”

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프란치스코 교황 성하의 
2022년 전교 주일 담화
(2022년 10월 23일)

“너희는 나의 증인이 될 것이다”(사도 1,8)

사랑하는 형제자매 여러분,

“성령께서 너희에게 내리시면 너희는 힘을 받아, 예루살렘과 온 유다와 사마리아, 그리고 땅끝에 이르기까지 나의 증인이 될 것이다”(사도 1,8). 이는 우리가 사도행전을 통하여 알고 있듯이, 부활하신 예수님께서 하늘로 오르시기 직전에 제자들에게 하셨던 말씀입니다. 2022년 전교 주일의 주제이기도 한 이 구절은 교회가 그 본성상 선교적이라는 사실을 늘 그랬듯이 우리에게 상기시켜 줍니다. 올해 전교 주일은 교회의 삶과 사명에서 몇 가지 중요한 사건들, 곧 현재 교황청 인류복음화성인 포교성성 설립 400주년과 전교회 설립 200주년을 기념할 기회를 마련해 줍니다. 전교회는 100년 전에 어린이전교회와 베드로사도회와 함께 ‘교황청립’의 지위를 부여받았습니다. 

모든 제자의 삶과 사명의 세 가지 토대를 종합하는 세 가지의 핵심 표현을 성찰해 보도록 합시다. ‘너희는 나의 증인이 될 것이다’, ‘땅끝에 이르기까지’, ‘너희가 성령의 힘을 받을 것이다.’

1. ‘너희는 나의 증인이 될 것이다’ - 그리스도를 증언해야 하는 모든 그리스도인의 소명 

제자들이 세상 안으로 파견된다는 점에서, 이 말씀은 제자들에게 하시는 예수님 가르침의 요점이자 핵심입니다. 제자들은 자신들이 받게 될 성령의 은총에 힘입어 예수님의 증인이 되어야 합니다. 제자들이 어디를 가든지 그리고 어디에 있든지 말입니다. 그리스도께서는 하느님 아버지의 ‘선교사’로서 가장 먼저 파견되신 분으로(요한 20,21 참조), 하느님 아버지의 “성실한 증인”이십니다(묵시 1,5 참조). 이와 마찬가지로 모든 그리스도인은 선교사가 되고, 그리스도의 증인이 되라고 부름받습니다. 그리고 그리스도의 제자 공동체인 교회는 그리스도를 증언하여 온 세상에 복음을 알려야 하는 사명 외에는 다른 어떤 사명도 없습니다. 복음화하는 일이 바로 교회의 정체성입니다. 

“너희는 나의 증인이 될 것이다.”라는 말씀을 더욱 깊이 살펴보면 그리스도께서 제자들에게 맡기신 사명에는 언제나 시의적절한 몇 가지 측면이 있음을 분명히 볼 수 있습니다. “너희는”이라는 복수 형태를 쓴 것은 제자들의 선교 소명의 공동체적이고 교회적인 본성을 강조합니다. 세례 받은 이는 저마다 교회 안에서 그리고 교회의 가르침에 따라 선교 사명으로 부름받았습니다. 결국 사명은 각자가 아니라 함께, 개인이 주도하는 것이 아니라 교회 공동체와 이루는 친교 안에서 수행하는 것입니다. 어떤 이가 아주 특별한 상황에서 복음화 사명을 홀로 수행하는 경우라도 그에게 소임을 맡긴 교회와의 친교 안에서 언제나 일하여야 합니다. 제 마음을 깊이 울린 교황 권고 「현대의 복음 선교」(Evangelii Nuntiandi)에서 성 바오로 6세 교황께서는 다음과 같이 가르쳐 주셨습니다. “복음화는 누구에게도 개인적이고 단독적인 행위가 아니라 어디까지나 지극히 교회적인 행위라는 것입니다. 외딴 벽지에서 심지어는 홀로 복음을 전하고 작은 공동체를 모으고 성사를 집전하는 이름 없는 설교자나 교리 교사나 사목자도 교회의 행위를 하고 있는 것이며, 그의 행위는 제도적인 관계로, 그러나 또한 초자연적인 은총의 보이지 않는 심오한 관계로 교회 전체의 복음화 활동과 밀접하게 연결되어 있습니다. 이는 곧 그가 자신이 스스로 떠맡은 사명 때문이나 개인의 원의로 행동하는 것이 아니라 교회의 사명과 일치하여, 또 교회의 이름으로 행동한다는 것을 의미합니다”(「현대의 복음 선교」, 60항). 실제로, 주 예수님께서 당신 제자들을 짝지어 파견하셨던 것은 우연이 아니었습니다. 그리스도에 대한 그리스도인들의 증언은 무엇보다도 공동체적 성격을 지닙니다. 그래서 사명을 수행할 때에 그 규모와 상관없이 공동체의 존재는 본질적으로 중요합니다.

또한 제자들은 저마다의 삶을 선교 중심으로 살도록 권고받았습니다. 예수님께서는 제자들이 자신들에게 맡겨진 사명을 수행하는 것뿐만 아니라 무엇보다 그 사명을 살아가라고, 곧 증언을 하는 것뿐만 아니라 무엇보다 그리스도의 증인이 되라고 그들을 세상으로 파견하셨습니다. 바오로 사도의 다음 말씀은 큰 울림을 전해 줍니다. “우리는 언제나 예수님의 죽음을 몸에 짊어지고 다닙니다. 우리 몸에서 예수님의 생명도 드러나게 하려는 것입니다”(2코린 4,10). 사명의 본질은 그리스도를 증언하는 것입니다. 다시 말해 하느님 아버지와 인류에 대한 사랑 때문에 예수님께서 사셨고 수난하셨으며 돌아가셨고 부활하셨다는 것을 증언하는 것입니다. 사도들이 자신들과 같은 주님 부활의 증인들 가운데에서 유다의 빈자리를 채울 사람을 뽑은 것은 결코 우연이 아닙니다(사도 1,22 참조). 그리스도, 죽은 이들 가운데에서 부활하신 그리스도께서는 우리가 증언하여야만 하는 분이시고, 우리는 그분의 생명에 동참하여야 합니다. 그리스도의 선교사들은 자기들끼리 소통하고 자신의 설득력과 그 자질 또는 운영 능력을 과시하라고 파견되는 것이 아닙니다. 오히려 그들은 초대 사도들이 그랬듯이 기쁘고 담대하게 말과 행동으로 모든 이에게 구원의 기쁜 소식을 선포하며, 그리스도를 드러내는 최고의 영광을 가집니다. 

그러므로 결국 참된 증인은 ‘순교자’, 곧 그리스도께서 당신 자신을 우리에게 선물로 주신 데에 화답하며 그분을 위하여 자신의 목숨을 바치는 이들입니다. “복음화의 첫 번째 동인은 우리가 받은 예수님의 사랑, 그분께 구원받은 우리의 경험입니다. 예수님께서는 우리가 당신을 더욱더 사랑하도록 언제나 이끄십니다”(「복음의 기쁨」[Evangelii Gaudium], 264항).

마지막으로 그리스도인 증인들에 관해서는 성 바오로 6세 교황님의 통찰이 언제나 타당합니다. “현대인은 스승의 말보다 증인의 말을 기꺼이 듣습니다. 스승의 말을 듣는다면 스승이 증인이기 때문입니다”(「현대의 복음 선교」, 41항). 이러한 까닭에, 참된 그리스도인 삶의 증언은 신앙 전수의 근간입니다. 한편 그리스도의 인격과 말씀을 선포하는 것도 그 못지않게 필요합니다. 실제로 바오로 6세 교황께서는 이어 다음과 같이 말씀하셨습니다. “하느님 말씀을 말로 선포하는 설교는 언제나 필수적입니다. …… 언어는 언제나 현실적이며, 특히 하느님의 권능을 전달하는 것일 때에는 더욱 그러합니다. ‘믿음은 들음에서 온다.’(로마 10,17)고 한 바오로 사도의 말씀은 지금도 타당성을 지니며, 선포된 말씀은 믿음으로 이끌어 줍니다”(「현대의 복음 선교」, 42항).

그러므로 복음화에서 그리스도인 삶의 모범과 그리스도에 대한 선포는 따로 떼어놓을 수 없습니다. 하나가 다른 하나에 봉사합니다. 이러한 삶의 모범과 선포는 어느 공동체든 선교적이어야 할 때, 그 공동체가 숨을 쉬는 데에 필요한 두 개의 허파입니다. 그리스도에 대하여 이렇게 완전하고 지속적이며 기쁨이 넘치는 증언은 분명히 제삼천년기에도 교회 성장을 위한 사로잡는 힘이 될 것입니다. 저는 모든 이에게 삶의 모든 면에서 말과 행동으로 그리스도를 증언하도록 초기 그리스도인들의 용기와 솔직함과 담대함(parrhesía)을 다시 한번 지니라고 권고합니다. 

2. ‘땅끝에 이르기까지’ - 보편적 복음화라는 사명의 항구한 타당성

부활하신 주님께서는 제자들에게 당신의 증인이 되라고 당부하시며, 또한 “예루살렘과 온 유다와 사마리아, 그리고 땅끝에 이르기까지”(사도 1,8) 그들이 파견될 것이라고 말씀해 주십니다. 여기서 우리는 제자들 사명의 보편적 특징을 분명하게 보게 됩니다. 또한 우리는 흡사 동심원들을 그리듯 사명은 ‘원심력’으로 지리적 확장이 일어나는 것, 곧 유다 전통에서 세계의 중심으로 여기던 예루살렘에서 시작하여, 유다와 사마리아, 그리고 마침내 “땅끝에 이르기까지” 퍼져 나가는 것입니다. 제자들은 개종시키기 위해서가 아니라 복음을 선포하기 위해서 파견됩니다. 그리스도인들은 개종시키지 않습니다. 사도행전은 이러한 선교적 확장을 말하고, 주 그리스도의 증인이 되라는 부르심에 충실하여 ‘밖으로 나가는’ 교회 그리고 교회 생활의 구체적인 상황에서 하느님 섭리가 이끄시는 교회의 인상적인 모습을 보여 줍니다. 초기 그리스도인들은 예루살렘에서 박해를 받고 유다와 사마리아로 흩어져 나가 그들이 가는 곳마다 예수님을 증언하였습니다(사도 8,1.4 참조).

지금 우리 시대에 이와 비슷한 일이 여전히 벌어지고 있습니다. 종교 박해, 전쟁과 폭력의 상황으로 많은 그리스도인들이 고향 땅을 떠나 다른 나라로 가도록 내몰립니다. 자기의 고통에만 빠져 있지 않고 자신들을 받아 준 나라에서 그리스도와 하느님 사랑을 증언하고 있는 이러한 형제자매들에게 우리는 감사를 드립니다. 성 바오로 6세 교황께서는 이러한 형제자매들에게 “이주해 간 나라에서 이주민들이 져야 할 책임”(「현대의 복음 선교」, 21항)을 인식하라고 권고하셨습니다. 우리는 다양한 국적의 신자들이 본당의 모습을 풍요롭게 하고 본당들을 더욱 보편적으로, 더욱 가톨릭적으로 만드는 것을 점점 많이 보고 있습니다. 결과적으로 이주민 사목은, 지역 신자들이 자신들이 받은 그리스도 신앙의 기쁨을 재발견하도록 도울 수 있는 중요한 선교 활동으로 소중하게 여겨져야 합니다.

“땅끝에 이르기까지”라는 말은 모든 시대의 예수님 제자들에게 도전이 되어야 하고, 제자들이 자신에게 익숙한 지역을 뛰어넘어 예수님을 증언하러 나아가도록 다그쳐야 합니다. 현대의 동력이 지닌 온갖 이점에도, 그리스도의 사랑이라는 기쁜 소식을 전하려는 그리스도의 선교하는 증인들이 아직 다다르지 못한 지역들이 여전히 있습니다. 사명을 수행하는 예수님 제자들에게 그 어떠한 인간 현실도 낯설지 않습니다. 그리스도의 교회는 새로운 지역적, 사회적, 존재적 지평을 향하여, 그리고 ‘경계에 놓인’ 인간적 지역과 상황을 향하여 과거에도 지금도 또 미래에도 ‘밖으로 나아가’ 모든 민족, 문화, 사회적 지위의 모든 이에게 그리스도와 그분의 사랑을 증언하고자 할 것입니다. 이러한 까닭에 제2차 바티칸 공의회의 가르침대로 선교는 언제나 만민 선교(missio ad gentes)일 것입니다. 교회는 모든 이에게 그리스도의 사랑을 증언하고자 부단히 경계를 뛰어넘어 나아가야 합니다. 이에 저는, 자신들이 만났던 모든 형제자매에게 그리스도의 사랑을 구체화하는 데에 ‘온 힘을 쏟고자’ 목숨을 바쳤던 모든 선교사를 기억하고 그들에게 감사를 전하고자 합니다.

3. ‘너희가 성령의 힘을 받을 것이다’ - 언제나 성령의 힘과 인도를 받읍시다

부활하신 그리스도께서는 제자들에게 당신 증인이 되는 사명을 맡기시면서 이 크나큰 책임에 필요한 은총 또한 약속하셨습니다. “성령께서 너희에게 내리시면 너희는 힘을 받아, …… 나의 증인이 될 것이다”(사도 1,8). 사도행전 말씀에 따르면, 십자가에 못 박혀 돌아가시고 부활하신 그리스도에 대한 첫 번째 증언 행위는 바로 성령께서 제자들에게 내리신 뒤에 일어났습니다. 베드로 성인이 예루살렘 주민들에게 한 ‘선교’ 연설인 그 케리그마의 선포는, 예수님의 제자들이 세상을 복음화하는 시대를 열어 주었습니다. 그전까지 제자들은 힘없이 두려움에 떨며 자기 자신 안에 갇혀 있었지만, 성령께서 그들에게 힘과 용기와 지혜를 주시어 모든 이 앞에서 그리스도를 증언하게 해 주셨습니다. 

“성령에 힘입지 않고서는 아무도 ‘예수님은 주님이시다.’ 할 수 없습니다”(1코린 12,3). 바로 이 말씀처럼 그 어떤 그리스도인도 성령의 감도와 도움 없이는 주 그리스도를 온전히 참으로 증언할 수 없습니다. 그리스도의 선교하는 제자는 모두 성령의 활동이 지니는 본질적 중요성을 인식하고 날마다 성령의 현존 안에 머물며 성령의 끊임없는 힘과 인도를 받도록 부름받습니다. 참으로 지치거나 사기를 잃거나 헤매고 있는 바로 그때 우리는 성령께 기도하며 도움을 청하여야 한다는 사실을 기억하여야 합니다. 저는 기도가 선교의 삶에서 근간이 된다는 점을 다시 한번 강조하고 싶습니다. 다른 이들과 함께 그리스도의 생명에 참여하는 기쁨과 새로운 힘의 마르지 않는 거룩한 샘이신 성령께서 생기와 힘을 주시도록 우리를 내어 맡기는 것이 기도이기 때문입니다. “성령의 기쁨을 받는 것은 은총입니다. 더 나아가 이는 우리가 복음을 선포하고 주님에 대한 믿음을 고백하도록 하는 유일한 힘입니다”(교황청 전교기구에 보내는 메시지, 2020.5.21.). 이처럼 성령께서는 참된 선교 주역이십니다. 성령께서는 올바른 때에 올바른 방식으로 올바른 말씀을 주시는 분이십니다.

우리는 또한 성령의 활동에 비추어 2022년 올해의 선교와 관련한 기념일들을 살펴보고자 합니다. 새로운 지역에서 선교 임무를 증진시키고자 하는 바람에 힘입어 1622년 포교성성이 설립되었습니다. 이는 하느님의 섭리에 따른 통찰이었습니다! 포교성성은, 오늘날 활기찬 모습을 보여 주는 그러한 지역 교회들을 설립하고자, 세속적 힘의 간섭에서 교회의 복음화 사명을 참으로 자유롭게 하는 데에 자신이 핵심 역할을 하였음을 드러내 보였습니다. 우리는, 지난 4세기 동안 그랬듯이 인류복음화성이 성령의 빛과 힘으로 교회의 선교 활동을 조율하고 조직하며 증진하는 일을 지속하고 강화해 나가기를 진심으로 바랍니다. 

보편 교회를 이끄시는 바로 그 성령께서는 또한 평범한 사람들을 감도하여 그들이 특별한 사명에 나서게 해 주십니다. 정확히 200년 전에 전교회(Society for the Propagation of the Faith)를 설립한 이는 바로 젊은 프랑스 여성인 폴린 자리코(Pauline Jaricot)였습니다. 이번 희년에 폴린 자리코의 시복식이 거행될 예정입니다. 폴린 자리코는 병약한 가운데에도 하느님 감도에 이끌려 선교사들을 위한 기도와 모금의 조직망을 설립하여, 신자들이 “땅끝에 이르기까지” 선교에 적극적으로 참여할 수 있게 하였습니다. 이처럼 탁월한 생각에서 해마다 거행하는 전교 주일이 생겨났습니다. 이날 지역 공동체에서 모금된 후원금은 교황님께서 지원하시는 선교 활동에 사용되는 보편 기금에 포함됩니다. 

이와 관련하여 저는 또한 ‘어린이가 어린이를 복음화한다. 어린이가 어린이를 위하여 기도한다. 어린이가 전 세계 어린이를 돕는다.’라는 신조 아래 어린이들 사이의 선교를 증진하고자 어린이전교회(Association of the Holy Childhood)를 설립한 프랑스의 샤를 드 포르뱅장송(Charles de Forbin-Janson) 주교를 기억합니다. 저는 또한 전교 지역 신학생들과 사제들을 지원하고자 베드로사도회(Society of Saint Peter the Apostle)를 출범시킨 잔 비가르(Jeanne Bigard)를 기억합니다. 전교 기구의 이 세 기구는 정확히 100년 전에 ‘교황청립’으로 인준받았습니다. 150년 전에 태어난 복자 파올로 만나(Paolo Manna)가 사제들과 남녀 수도자들 그리고 하느님 백성 전체의 선교 의식을 일깨우고 고취하고자 오늘날의 교황청 전교연맹(Pontifical Missionary Union)을 설립한 것 또한 바로 성령께서 감도하시고 인도하신 덕분입니다. 성 바오로 6세 교황께서는 몸소 교황청 전교연맹에 가입하시고 그 기구의 교황 인준을 재확인하셨습니다. 제가 이 네 곳의 교황청 전교기구를 언급하는 것은 그 커다란 역사적 공로 때문만이 아니라, 보편 교회와 지역 교회에서 복음화 사명을 지원하고자 펼치는 그 활동에 대하여 여러분이 이 특별한 해에 함께 기뻐하기를 바라기 때문입니다. 저는 지역 교회들이 이 기구들 안에서 하느님 백성의 선교 의식을 기르는 데에 확실한 도구들을 찾기를 희망합니다. 

사랑하는 형제자매 여러분, 저는 온전히 선교하는 교회를, 그리고 그리스도교 공동체들이 하는 선교 활동의 새 시대를 늘 꿈꿉니다. 여정 중에 있는 하느님 백성을 위한 모세의 간절한 바람을 저도 되풀이해 봅니다. “주님의 온 백성이 예언자였으면 좋겠습니다”(민수 11,29). 참으로 교회 안의 우리가 모두, 세례의 힘으로 이미 예언자, 증인, 주님의 선교사가 되었던 본연의 우리가 모두 성령에 힘입어 땅끝에 이르기까지 예언자, 증인, 주님의 선교사라면 좋겠습니다! 선교사들의 모후이신 성모 마리아님, 저희를 위하여 빌어 주소서!


로마 성 요한 라테라노 대성전에서
2022년 1월 6일
주님 공현 대축일

프란치스코

 

 

 

 


<원문: Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for World Mission Day 2022, “You shall be my witnesses” (Acts 1,8), 영어와 이탈리아어>

영어: 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/missions/documents/20220106-giornata-missionaria.html

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
FOR WORLD MISSION DAY 2022

“You shall be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8)

Dear brothers and sisters!

These words were spoken by the Risen Jesus to his disciples just before his Ascension into heaven, as we learn from the Acts of the Apostles: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth” (1:8). They are also the theme of the 2022 World Mission Day which, as always, reminds us that the Church is missionary by nature. This year World Mission Day offers us the opportunity to commemorate several important events in the Church’s life and mission: the fourth centenary of the founding of the Congregation de Propaganda Fide, now the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and the second centenary of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith. A hundred years ago, the latter, together with the Society of the Holy Childhood and the Society of Saint Peter the Apostle, was granted the title “Pontifical”.

Let us reflect on the three key phrases that synthesize the three foundations of the life and mission of every disciple: “You shall be my witnesses”, “to the ends of the earth” and “you shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit”.

1. “You shall be my witnesses” – The call of every Christian to bear witness to Christ

This is the central point, the heart of Jesus’ teaching to the disciples, in view of their being sent forth into the world. The disciples are to be witnesses of Jesus, thanks to the grace of the Holy Spirit that they will receive. Wherever they go and in whatever place they find themselves. Christ was the first to be sent, as a “missionary” of the Father (cf. Jn 20:21), and as such, he is the Father’s “faithful witness” (cf. Rev 1:5). In a similar way, every Christian is called to be a missionary and witness to Christ.  And the Church, the community of Christ’s disciples, has no other mission than that of bringing the Gospel to the entire world by bearing witness to Christ.  To evangelize is the very identity of the Church.

A deeper look at the words, “You shall be my witnesses”, can clarify a few ever timely aspects of the mission Christ entrusted to the disciples. The plural form of the verb emphasizes the communitarian and ecclesial nature of the disciples’ missionary vocation. Each baptized person is called to mission, in the Church and by the mandate of the Church: consequently, mission is carried out together, not individually, in communion with the ecclesial community, and not on one’s own initiative. Even in cases where an individual in some very particular situation carries out the evangelizing mission alone, he must always do so in communion with the Church which commissioned him. As Saint Paul VI taught in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, a document dear to my heart: “Evangelization is for no one an individual and isolated act; it is one that is deeply ecclesial. When the most obscure preacher, catechist or pastor in the most distant land preaches the Gospel, gathers his little community together or administers a sacrament, even alone, he is carrying out an ecclesial act, and his action is certainly attached to the evangelizing activity of the whole Church by institutional relationships, but also by profound invisible links in the order of grace. This presupposes that he acts not in virtue of a mission which he attributes to himself or by a personal inspiration, but in union with the mission of the Church and in her name” (No. 60). Indeed, it was no coincidence that the Lord Jesus sent his disciples out on mission in pairs; the witness of Christians to Christ is primarily communitarian in nature. Hence, in carrying out the mission, the presence of a community, regardless of its size, is of fundamental importance.

In addition, the disciples are urged to live their personal lives in a missionary key: they are sent by Jesus to the world not only to carry out, but also and above all to live the mission entrusted to them; not only to bear witness, but also and above all to be witnesses of Christ.  In the moving words of the Apostle Paul, “[we are] always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies” (2 Cor 4:10). The essence of the mission is to bear witness to Christ, that is, to his life, passion, death and resurrection for the love of the Father and of humanity. Not by chance did the apostles look for Judas’ replacement among those who, like themselves, had been witnesses of the Lord’s resurrection (cf. Acts 1:21). Christ, indeed Christ risen from the dead, is the One to whom we must testify and whose life we must share.

Missionaries of Christ are not sent to communicate themselves, to exhibit their persuasive qualities and abilities or their managerial skills. Instead, theirs is the supreme honour of presenting Christ in words and deeds, proclaiming to everyone the Good News of his salvation, as the first apostles did, with joy and boldness.

In the final analysis, then, the true witness is the “martyr”, the one who gives his or her life for Christ, reciprocating the gift that he has made to us of himself. “The primary reason for evangelizing is the love of Jesus which we have received, the experience of salvation which urges us to ever greater love of him” (Evangelii Gaudium, 264).

Finally, when it comes to Christian witness, the observation of Saint Paul VI remains ever valid: “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 41). For this reason, the testimony of an authentic Christian life is fundamental for the transmission of the faith. On the other hand, the task of proclaiming Christ’s person and the message is equally necessary. Indeed, Paul VI went on to say:

“Preaching, the verbal proclamation of a message, is indeed always indispensable…  The word remains ever relevant, especially when it is the bearer of the power of God. This is why Saint Paul’s axiom, “Faith comes from what is heard” (Rom 10:17), also retains its relevance: it is the word that is heard which leads to belief” (ibid., 42).

In evangelization, then, the example of a Christian life and the proclamation of Christ are inseparable. One is at the service of the other. They are the two lungs with which any community must breathe, if it is to be missionary. This kind of complete, consistent and joyful witness to Christ will surely be a force of attraction also for the growth of the Church in the third millennium. I exhort everyone to take up once again the courage, frankness and parrhesía of the first Christians, in order to bear witness to Christ in word and deed in every area of life.

2. “To the ends of the earth” – The perennial relevance of a mission of universal evangelization

In telling the disciples to be his witnesses, the risen Lord also tells them where they are being sent: “…in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Here we clearly see the universal character of the disciples’ mission. We also see the “centrifugal” geographical expansion, as if in concentric circles, of the mission, beginning with Jerusalem, which Jewish tradition considered the centre of the world, to Judea and Samaria and to “the ends of the earth”.

The disciples are sent not to proselytize, but to proclaim; the Christian does not proselytize. The Acts of the Apostles speak of this missionary expansion and provide a striking image of the Church “going forth” in fidelity to her call to bear witness to Christ the Lord and guided by divine providence in the concrete conditions of her life.  Persecuted in Jerusalem and then spread throughout Judea and Samaria, the first Christians bore witness to Jesus everywhere (cf. Acts 8:1, 4).

Something similar still happens in our own day. Due to religious persecution and situations of war and violence, many Christians are forced to flee from their homelands to other countries. We are grateful to these brothers and sisters who do not remain locked in their own suffering but bear witness to Christ and to the love of God in the countries that accept them.

Hence, Saint Paul VI encouraged them to recognize the “responsibility incumbent on immigrants in the country that receives them” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 21). More and more, we are seeing how the presence of faithful of various nationalities enriches the face of parishes and makes them more universal, more Catholic. Consequently, the pastoral care of migrants should be valued as an important missionary activity that can also help the local faithful to rediscover the joy of the Christian faith they have received.

The words “to the ends of the earth” should challenge the disciples of Jesus in every age and impel them to press beyond familiar places in bearing witness to him. For all the benefits of modern travel, there are still geographical areas in which missionary witnesses of Christ have not arrived to bring the Good News of his love. Then too no human reality is foreign to the concern of the disciples of Jesus in their mission. Christ’s Church will continue to “go forth” towards new geographical, social and existential horizons, towards “borderline” places and human situations, in order to bear witness to Christ and his love to men and women of every people, culture and social status.  In this sense, the mission will always be a missio ad gentes, as the Second Vatican Council taught. The Church must constantly keep pressing forward, beyond her own confines, in order to testify to all the love of Christ. Here I would like to remember and express my gratitude for all those many missionaries who gave their lives in order to “press on” in incarnating Christ’s love towards all the brothers and sisters whom they met.

3. “You will receive power” from the Holy Spirit – Let us always be strengthened and guided by the Spirit.

When the risen Christ commissioned the disciples to be his witnesses, he also promised them the grace needed for this great responsibility: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). According to the account in Acts, it was precisely following the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples that the first act of witnessing to the crucified and risen Christ took place. That kerygmatic proclamation – Saint Peter’s “missionary” address to the inhabitants of Jerusalem – inaugurated an era in which the disciples of Jesus evangelized the world. Whereas they had previously been weak, fearful and closed in on themselves, the Holy Spirit gave them the strength, courage and wisdom to bear witness to Christ before all.

Just as “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’, except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 12:3), so no Christian is able to bear full and genuine witness to Christ the Lord without the Spirit’s inspiration and assistance. All Christ’s missionary disciples are called to recognize the essential importance of the Spirit’s work, to dwell in his presence daily and to receive his unfailing strength and guidance. Indeed, it is precisely when we feel tired, unmotivated or confused that we should remember to have recourse to the Holy Spirit in prayer. Let me emphasize once again that prayer plays a fundamental role in the missionary life, for it allows us to be refreshed and strengthened by the Spirit as the inexhaustible divine source of renewed energy and joy in sharing Christ’s life with others. “Receiving the joy of the Spirit is a grace. Moreover, it is the only force that enables us to preach the Gospel and to confess our faith in the Lord” (Message to the Pontifical Mission Societies, 21 May 2020).  The Spirit, then, is the true protagonist of mission. It is he who gives us the right word, at the right time, and in the right way.

In light of this action of the Holy Spirit, we also want to consider the missionary anniversaries to be celebrated in 2022. The establishment of the Sacred Congregation De Propaganda Fide in 1622 was motivated by the desire to promote the missionary mandate in new territories. A providential insight! The Congregation proved to be crucial for setting the Church’s evangelizing mission truly free from interference by worldly powers, in order to establish those local Churches which today display such great vigour. It is our hope that, as in its past four centuries, the Congregation, with the light and strength of the Spirit, will continue and intensify its work of coordinating, organizing and promoting the Church’s missionary activities.

The same Spirit who guides the universal Church also inspires ordinary men and women for extraordinary missions. Thus it was that a young French woman, Pauline Jaricot, founded the Society for the Propagation of the Faith exactly two hundred years ago. Her beatification will be celebrated in this jubilee year. Albeit in poor health, she accepted God’s inspiration to establish a network of prayer and collection for missionaries, so that the faithful could actively participate in the mission “to the ends of the earth”. This brilliant idea gave rise to the annual celebration of World Mission Day, in which the funds collected in local communities are applied to the universal fund with which the Pope supports missionary activity.

In this regard, I think too of the French Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson, who established the Association of the Holy Childhood to promote the mission among children, with the motto “Children evangelize children, children pray for children, children help children the world over”. I also think of Jeanne Bigard, who inaugurated the Society of Saint Peter the Apostle for the support of seminarians and priests in mission lands. Those three Mission Societies were recognized as “Pontifical” exactly a hundred years ago. It was also under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit that Blessed Paolo Manna, born 150 years ago, founded the present-day Pontifical Missionary Union, to raise awareness and encourage missionary spirit among priests, men and women religious and the whole people of God. Saint Paul VI himself was part of this latter Society, and confirmed its papal recognition. I mention these four Pontifical Mission Societies for their great historical merits, but also to encourage you to rejoice with them, in this special year, for the activities they carry out in support of the mission of evangelization in the Church, both universal and local. It is my hope that the local Churches will find in these Societies a sure means for fostering the missionary spirit among the People of God.

Dear brothers and sisters, I continue to dream of a completely missionary Church, and a new era of missionary activity among Christian communities. I repeat Moses’ great desire for the people of God on their journey: “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets!” (Num 11:29). Indeed, would that all of us in the Church were what we already are by virtue of baptism: prophets, witnesses, missionaries of the Lord, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the ends of the earth! Mary, Queen of the Missions, pray for us!

Rome, Saint John Lateran, 6 January 2022, Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
 

FRANCIS

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