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October 15, 2025By Deacon Rafael Longhini
Special to The CFP
Despite the rain and gray skies, about 40,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square on the morning of Oct. 5 for Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Missionary World and the Jubilee of Migrants.
At the conclusion of the celebration, before reciting the Angelus, the Holy Father warmly thanked the pilgrims who had come from every corner of the world, saying: “You are good missionaries because you came even in the rain! Thank you! The Church is entirely missionary.”
Pope Leo emphasized that no one should be forced to leave their homeland, nor should anyone be “exploited or mistreated because of their condition of need or foreignness.” He reminded us all that “human dignity always comes first.”
Pilgrims from more than one hundred countries took part in the celebration, including large groups from Italy, the United States, Spain, Poland, Switzerland, France, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, the Philippines, India, and Canada. Delegations from Zambia, Lesotho, China, Costa Rica, Madagascar, and Mauritius were also present, according to the Vatican, bearing witness to the universal nature of the Church’s missionary vocation.
I had the joy of leading a group of twenty Portuguese and Brazilian-born lay migrants from the United States to participate in this Jubilee. Our presence expressed the deep faith and vitality of the migrant community, which continues to build bridges of fraternity and hope in every corner of the world.
Our diocese today counts thirty five priests who have left their countries of origin to serve here, a living testimony of a Church that both welcomes and sends forth missionaries in the name of Christ.
During his homily, Pope Leo invited us to rekindle our awareness of the missionary vocation, which springs from the desire to “bring the joy and consolation of the Gospel to everyone,” especially to those who live in hardship and pain.
“In particular,” he said, “I think of our migrant brothers and sisters, who have had to depart their homelands, often leaving their loved ones behind, enduring nights of fear and loneliness, experiencing discrimination and violence firsthand.
Quoting Pope Francis’ “Evangelii Gaudium,” the Holy Father reminded us that “the entire Church is missionary, and it is urgent that we go forth and preach the Gospel to all: to all places, on all occasions, without hesitation, reluctance or fear.”
In a moving appeal, Pope Leo addressed both missionaries and migrants:
“Beloved friends, I willingly give my blessing to the local clergy of the particular Churches, to missionaries and those discerning a vocation. Whereas, to migrants I say: Know that you are always welcome! The seas and deserts that you have crossed, Scripture calls ‘places of salvation,’ in which God makes himself present to save his people. I hope that you find this face of God in the missionaries that you encounter.”
Throughout his message, Pope Leo underlined that “welcome” is not only a Gospel commandment but also an ethical and social responsibility for every Christian and for the international community as a whole. He described the face of the contemporary Church as that of a “Church that goes forth,” attentive to new forms of poverty and to those seeking hope far from their homelands.
His words reminded us that hospitality is among the oldest Christian virtues and the foundation of peaceful coexistence among peoples. In these solemn moments, his voice rose not only as a spiritual guide but also as a messenger of the universal longing for justice, dignity, and peace.
At the conclusion of the celebration, I prayed for all the migrants of our diocese, entrusting them to the loving protection of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, patroness of migrants and a radiant example of missionary courage.
She, who left Italy for the United States to evangelize, remains a model of faith and compassion. Through her intercession, may we continue to welcome, to serve, and to bring the light of the Gospel to every nation.