«Mexico is among the emerging nations in terms of the gift of missionaries, because more and more faithful from this country leave to bring the Good News of Christ to distant lands,» said Archbishop Giampietro Dal Toso, Assistant Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and President of the Pontifical Mission Societies.
His comments came in an October 2, 2018, interview with Fides News Agency as he began a visit in the Mexican capital. The Archbishop emphasized «the presence of so many Mexican missionaries, priests, men, and women religious, but also lay people and families, who leave their land to bring faith everywhere in the world. Mission is not something which belongs to the past, but is current, and is a call of every baptized: this is why Pope Francis always speaks of ‘a Church that goes forth’, which means missionary Church».
Archbishop Dal Toso outlined his trip to Mexico, during which he will offer some conferences, meet the Bishops and visit the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
«Pope Francis wanted the whole Church to celebrate an extraordinary missionary month in October 2019. The Church in Mexico decided that its celebration will be extended for a whole year, indicating a special Missionary Year, and this is the reason of my visit here», explained the president of the Pontifical Mission Societies
There are also important events to celebrate in Mexico in October 2018, starting from the 50th anniversary of the magazine «Ad Gentes», published by the PMS of Mexico. In fact, the opening of the missionary Month involves the whole local Church. The opening Day will be highlighted with the presentation of a commemorative edition of the contemporary papal missionary Magisterium, by Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, Archbishop of Mexico, and by the blessing of the Paul VI Missionary Library, by Archbishop Franco Coppola, Apostolic Nuncio.
Archbishop Dal Toso will preside at the solemn celebration of the Eucharist at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the afternoon, in the presence of all the city’s authorities and a large assembly of faithful.
