THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.

In truth, the whole of humanity has the radical vocation to return to its source, to return to God, since in Him alone can it find accomplishment through the restoration of all things in Christ.Dispersion,multiplicity,conflict,enmity will be calmed and reconciled through the blood of the Cross and led back to unity. This new beginning has already started with the Resurrection and the exaltation of Christ, who draws all things to Himself, renewing them and enabling them to share in the eternal joy of God. The future of the new creation shines already in our world and despite contradictions and suffering, kindness hope for new life. The church’s mission is to “infect” all peoples with hope. This is why Christ calls, sanctifies and sends his disciples to announce the kingdom of God, so that all nations may become the people of God. It is only in this mission that the through journey of humanity is understood and attested. The universal mission should become a fundamental constant in the life of the church. To announce the Gospel must be for us, as it was for the Apostle Paul, a primary and impelling duty.
The universal Church which knows neither boarders nor frontiers responsible for announcing the Gospel to the whole people (cf Evangelii nuntiandi, 53).It is the duty of the Church, seed of hope by vocation, to continue Christ’s service in the world. The measure of her mission and her service is not material or even spiritual needs restricted to temporal existence, instead, it is transcendent salvation, fulfilled in the kingdom of God (cf Evangelii nuntiandi, 27).This Kingdom, although eschatological in its completeness and not of this world (cf Gv 18, 36), is in this world and in its history, a force for justice and peace, for true freedom and respect for human dignity of every human person. The Church wishes to transform the world with the proclamation of the Gospel of love,” that can always illuminates a world grown dim and give us the courage needed to keep living and working…and in this way to cause the light of God to enter into the world” (Deus caritas est., 39).It is to this mission and to this service that I call, also with this message all the members and institutions of the Church to participate.