During an audience with members of the Pontifical Missionary Societies, Francis mentioned the “the difficulties and persecutions” Christians endure. On the margins of society, “the Church is required to go into the streets, towards the many brothers and sisters of ours who live without the strength, light and consolation of Jesus Christ.” A Church “that is reduced to pursuing party bureaucratic efficiency at all costs is already dead, even though the structures and programmes in favour of the clergy and 'self-employed' laity could last for centuries”.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Proclaiming the “Gospel is the first and constant concern of the Church, its essential task, its greatest challenge, and the source of its renewal,” said Pope Francis this morning during a meeting with the participants to the general assembly of the Pontifical Missionary Societies (PMS).

For the pontiff, those who are committed to bringing the Good News to the world, especially to the poor, must shy away from “functionalism” because a “Church that is reduced to pursuing party bureaucratic efficiency at all costs is already dead, even though the structures and programmes in favour of the clergy and 'self-employed' laity could last for centuries”.

In his address, the Holy Father focused on the "missionary mandate to evangelise the peoples to the ends of the earth", which remains "the Church’s greatest challenge”, especially in view of “the difficulties and persecutions” Christians continue to endure.

"Humanity so desperately needs the Gospel, the source of joy, hope and peace,” Francis said. The mission of evangelisation takes priority because missionary activity is still the greatest challenge for the Church. ‘How I long to find the right words to stir up enthusiasm for a new chapter of evangelization full of fervour, joy, generosity, courage, boundless love and attraction!’ (Ap. Exhort Evangelii Gaudium, 261). The proclamation of the Gospel is thus the first and constant concern of the Church; it is its essential commitment, its biggest challenge, and the source of its renewal.”

“In fact, from the mission of evangelisation, its intensity and effectiveness comes the true renewal of the Church, its structures and pastoral activity. Without the restlessness and anxiety of evangelisation, it is not possible to develop a credible and effective pastoral ministry that combines proclamation and human promotion. ‘[M]issionary outreach is paradigmatic for all the Church’s activity’ (Evangelii Gaudium, 15)."

“You, members of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and PMS national directors, as a vocation and ministry, have the demanding and privileged task of opening up to the broad and universal horizons of humanity, its geographical and above all human boundaries.”

“With esteem and affection, you accompany the life of the young Churches throughout the world and encourage the People of God to live fully the universal mission. You know the wonders that the Holy Spirit works for humanity through these Churches, often with scarce resources and even through the difficulties and persecutions they suffer for their faith and their witness to the Word of God and in defence of humanity. In those human peripheries, the Church is required to go into the streets, towards the many brothers and sisters of ours who live without the strength, light and consolation of Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to welcome them, without horizons of meaning and of life” (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 49)”.

"The Congregation for Evangelisation and the Pontifical Mission Societies play the leading role in the renewed evangelisation that is directed to everyone, especially the poor, the lowliest and the marginalised (cf. n. 198). The PMS, in view of their distinctive charism, are attentive and sensitive to the needs of mission territories and, in particular, the poorest human groups. They are instruments of communion between Churches, promoting and implementing the sharing of human and economic resources. They are committed to supporting seminarians, presbyters and women religious from the young Churches in mission territories in the Pontifical Colleges. Faced with such a beautiful and important task, faith and love of Christ have the capacity to lead us everywhere to announce the Gospel of love, fraternity and justice. This is achieved through prayer, evangelical courage and the witness of the beatitudes”.

“Please, be careful not to give in to the temptation of becoming a non-governmental organisation, an office for the distribution of ordinary and extraordinary aid. Money helps but it can also become the ruin of the Mission. Functionalism, when it is placed in the centre or occupies a major space, as if it were the most important issue, will lead you to ruin, as the first way to die is to take the 'sources' for granted – that is, He Who inspires the Mission. Please, with all your plans and programmes, do not cut Jesus Christ out of missionary work, which is His work. A Church that is reduced to pursuing party bureaucratic efficiency at all costs is already dead, even though the structures and programmes in favour of the clergy and 'self-employed' laity could last for centuries”.

"True evangelisation is not possible without the sanctifying energy of the Holy Spirit, the only one able to renew, revive and give impetus to the Church in its bold outreach to evangelise all peoples (cf. ibid. N. 261). May the Virgin Mary, Star of Evangelisation, always attain for us the passion for the Kingdom of God, so that the joy of the Gospel may reach the ends of the earth and no edge be deprived of her light."

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