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Pope Leo XIV marks 100th World Mission Sunday

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV marked the 100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday on October 18, 2026, with the theme "One in Christ, United in Mission." The annual observance was established in 1926 by Pope Pius XI to support missionary work globally.

The centenary highlights the growth of the Church's missionary footprint, which has expanded from approximately 300 jurisdictions serving 10 million Catholics at the time of the Sunday's founding to more than 1,000 territories serving over 300 million faithful today. Collections taken during Mass go to the Universal Solidarity Fund, coordinated by the Pontifical Mission Societies to support work across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

In Scotland, Archbishop Leo Cushley oversees Missio Scotland, which uses donations to support projects such as providing electricity generators for Catholic centers in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and assisting Franciscan Sisters in providing education and care for children in Albania. In Thailand, Father Piyachart Makornkan, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, noted that the day serves to support young churches on the front lines of evangelization.

In Mexico, bishops issued a statement through Archbishop Víctor Sánchez Espinosa calling on the faithful to pray for peace and to overcome divisions to fulfill their missionary calling. Similarly, Father Ferdinand Sambou in France highlighted missionary efforts such as supporting a new school in Senegal.

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5 sources8 reports4 languages

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Earlier version, Monday 19 October

Pope Leo XIV to celebrate World Mission Sunday

Earlier version, Monday 19 October

Pope Leo XIV Marks 100 Years of World Mission Sunday

Earlier version, Monday 19 October

Pope Leo XIV to mark 100th World Mission Sunday

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 16, 11:34 AM KTO Français Unis dans la Mission - Associons-nous aux OPM
  2. Oct 17, 4:05 AM Diocese of Dunkeld One in Christ and United in Mission
  3. Oct 16, 11:32 PM Archdiocese of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh Mission Sunday: 100 years of faith and generosity
  4. Oct 16, 3:23 AM Archdiocese of Valencia Español Jornada Mundial de las Misiones: Cien años Ayudando a llevar el Evangelio a los confines de la Tierra
  5. Oct 18, 5:42 AM ACI Prensa Español Obispos de México convocan a orar por la paz en la Jornada Mundial de las Misiones
  6. Oct 19, 12:52 AM LiCAS News World Mission Sunday centenary highlights unity, missionary renewal
  7. Oct 19, 12:46 AM Diocese of Rzeszów Polski „Jedno w Chrystusie, zjednoczeni w misji” – Światowy Dzień Misyjny 2026
  8. Oct 19, 11:59 AM Vatican News Español 100 Años del DOMUND: “Uno en Cristo, Unidos en la misión”

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 22, 2:31 PM PT · 57 sources Pope Leo XIV leads the Angelus
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  3. Oct 22, 2:30 PM PT · 33 sources Pope Leo XIV needs no further treatment after lung cancer surgery
  4. Oct 22, 1:21 PM PT Chicago artist creates Marian icon for Pope Leo XIV, who will keep the image in his bedroom
  5. Oct 22, 1:17 PM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV is cancer-free
  6. Oct 22, 1:00 PM PT · 11 sources Pope Leo XIV urges Catholic schools to help young people
  7. Oct 22, 12:43 PM PT · 25 sources Pope Leo XIV meets American Jewish Committee
  8. Oct 22, 12:12 PM PT · 11 sources Pope Leo XIV invites young people to Seoul for WYD 2027
  9. Oct 22, 12:11 PM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Argentina
  10. Oct 22, 11:21 AM PT · 25 sources Pope Leo XIV invites youth to Seoul for World Youth Day 2027
  11. Oct 22, 10:39 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to hold private audience with Villanova, Notre Dame teams
  12. Oct 22, 10:13 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV invites 2027 World Youth Day participants
  13. Oct 22, 9:05 AM PT Pope Leo XIV and the Pressure to Be Perfect: “Many Give Up Before Even Trying”
  14. Oct 22, 8:30 AM PT A Global Symphony of Prayer: 16 Readers Share Ways They Prayed for Pope Leo XIV
  15. Oct 22, 8:20 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV invites young people to Seoul for WYD 2027
  16. Oct 22, 8:07 AM PT · 33 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 24 new members to International Theological Commission
  17. Oct 22, 8:01 AM PT · 7 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Leandro Machado Silvestre as bishop of Guajará-Mirim
  18. Oct 22, 8:01 AM PT · 21 sources Pope Leo XIV leads General Audience on October 21, 2026, emphasizing marriage and family
  19. Oct 22, 8:01 AM PT · 23 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Holiness in History conference
  20. Oct 22, 7:28 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas presented to Dutch and Flemish bishops
  21. Oct 22, 6:18 AM PT · 61 sources Pope Leo XIV speaks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
  22. Oct 22, 5:20 AM PT · 9 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Synod on Synodality
  23. Oct 22, 4:30 AM PT · 3 sources COMECE bishops send message of prayer and support to Pope Leo XIV
  24. Oct 22, 4:01 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants of Congress on Pastoral Care in Schools and Universities
  25. Oct 22, 3:55 AM PT · 25 sources Pope Leo XIV emphasizes protecting marriage at general audience

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