VATICAN – The Pontifical Mission Societies in history and the future
Vatican (Agenzia Fides). – Historical evolution, and current challenges. Yesterday afternoon, Archbishop Giampietro DAL TOSO, President of Pontifical Mission Societies, spoke with this perspective at the conference at the Pontifical Urbaniana University.
Msgr. Msgr. He also spoke about the relationship with Propaganda Fide, and concluded his speech with reflections on the future of the Societies 200 years after the founding of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
Archbishop Dal Toso spoke out about the development and birth of the Missionary Societies. He emphasized that this was possible because of the strong missionary spirit at the time. The press and letters from missionaries were crucial in gaining the attention and participation of the faithful. They were also a key element that generated a strong missionary impulse. Monsignor Dal Toso also highlighted a crucial point in the life of the Societies. “100 years ago on May 3, 1922 Pope Pius XI asked the first three Societies be made Pontifical and entrusted the Congregation of propaganda Fide with this task: This makes them the main instrument through the help of the local Catholic Churches around the world that supports the missionary activity, both ideally as materially.”
The President of the PMS also recalled the uniqueness of the structure. Since 1995 the practice has been to have the President of the Pontifical Mission Societies be the same for all four Societies, and at the same time, the Assistant Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
The Archbishop emphasized the charism that is the basis of the PMS’ specific spirituality. He said that prayer, charity, and in/formation are the three tools through which their charism can be realized. He also used three concepts to describe it – faith, mission, and universality. The Archbishop said that the charisms of Societies were designed to assist the faithful in living their faith from his universal and missionary essence. It does not replace faith but helps you live it in a whole new way. The Archbishop then identified three lines of work in the future: more collaboration with local Churches; reawakening the missionary sense; and keeping alive, in line the Magisterium the Popes the concern for missio ad Gentes. He concluded by saying that “Contributing the life of Christ to the salvation of the whole world is a responsibility that will continue to accompany us in the future.” (EG.) (Agenzia Fides, 18/11/2022)
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Source: fides.org
