Pope says missionary activity is tied to love for God, service

Published: 2006-06-02

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI said love for God and service to the needy are defining elements of the church's missionary activity around the world. The pope made the comments in his annual message for World Mission Sunday, which will be celebrated Oct. 22 this year. The papal text, which focuses on love as the heart of missionary work, was published at the Vatican June 2. The pope said all missionary activity is tied to love -- the love of God for human beings, as demonstrated in the saving sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and the love Christians are commanded to show others in their daily lives. In a sense, he said, Christians are asked to make the world "burn" with divine love. "Isn't this the mission of the church in every age?" he said. The pope emphasized that missionary work represents an essential and permanent task for every Christian and necessarily involves self-sacrifice.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .