Scritto da bro. Rodelio Ian Mapula | Categoria: Cultura | Pubblicato il 17/10/2025
“It is good for us to become a Church that is also outgoing, finding joy not in the things of the world, but in preaching the Gospel before the world and opening people’s hearts to the presence of God.” These were the words of Pope Francis in his homily at the Mass for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29, 2023. At heart, Pope Francis is calling the Church to look beyond itself. He is appealing the Church to move beyond its walls and engage the world with joy. Rather than seeking worldly gains, the Church is called to share the Good News of Jesus and help people encounter the presence of God in their lives.
Delving into this thought, we can never speak of an “outgoing Church” without referring to the understanding of the Church’s nature as “missionary.” From the Great Commission to the years before Vatican II, the Church inspires future thought about what real missionary service should include. During the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI promulgated the Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church, entitled Ad Gentes Divinitus (“To the Nations, by Divine Mandate”), on December 7, 1965. In it, he emphasized that “the pilgrim Church is missionary by her very nature” (no. 2). This marked a decisive moment in articulating and affirming that the Church is not merely an institution that sends missionaries, but is itself missionary by its very nature.
Vatican II broadened the understanding of mission, affirming that it is not reserved solely for priests or religious, but is the responsibility of every baptized person. Mission is not limited to distant lands but extends to all people, everywhere especially within secularized societies. Building on this, Pope Paul VI clarified that evangelization is the Church’s primary mission (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 14). John Paul II further emphasized the Church’s universal mission, describing it as “a matter of faith” (Redemptoris Missio, 4). Continuing this vision, Benedict XVI underlined the inseparable link between evangelization and charity (Deus Caritas Est, 19).
The terms “missionary Church” and “outgoing Church” are closely related and often used interchangeably, especially by Pope Francis, but they are not identical. While a “missionary Church” generally emphasizes evangelization, particularly toward non-believers or those outside the Church, an “outgoing Church” actively moves beyond its own boundaries and stepping out of its comfort zone. It meets people where they are: on the margins, in their homes, workplaces, or on the streets. This Church resists being self-focused or isolated, embracing a posture of openness and engagement (LG, 1; GS, 1, 4; EG, 20, 27; RM, 2, 32).
Pope Francis calls for a “Church that goes forth”, a Church that does not stay safe and inward but goes out to encounter others (Evangelii Gaudium, 20-24). He remarked that he prefers a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets (Evangelii Gaudium, 49). The focus is being open, welcoming, and proactive in reaching people. It is all about engaging with the world through presence, service, witness and not just words.
The Church must be a visible sign of God’s presence in the world and not hidden or turned inward (Lumen Gentium, 1). Thus, Pope Francis expresses his vision, saying, “I dream of a ‘missionary option,’ that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything...”(Evangelii Gaudium, 27). His focus builds directly on the teachings of his predecessors showing continuity, not a break, in the Church’s missionary identity. There is only change in emphasis, not in doctrine. It is about how the Church understands and lives out its missionary identity in the modern world.
Pope Francis speaks of the Church on the front line, in solidarity with the people: “The Church is called to reach the daily thoroughfares, that is, the geographic and existential peripheries of humanity, those places at the margins, those situations in which those who have set up camp are found where and hopeless remnants of humanity live. It is a matter of not settling for comforts and the customary ways of evangelization and witnessing to charity, but of opening the doors of our hearts and our communities to everyone, because the Gospel is not reserved to a select few. Even those on the margins, even those who are rejected and scorned by society, are considered by God to be worthy of his love. He prepares his banquet for everyone: the just and sinners, good and bad, intelligent and uneducated” (Angelus, St. Peter's Square, November 10, 2020). Pope Francis presents a vision of the Church as fundamentally missionary, marked by compassion and inclusivity. He calls the Church to embody God's mercy and universal love by extending itself to all people especially those neglected or marginalized by society.
Is it likely that we will see more of this in the present pontificate? In his Inauguration Mass on May 18, 2025, Pope Leo underlines our missionary call: “With the light and the strength of the Holy Spirit, let us build a Church founded on God’s love, a sign of unity, a missionary Church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made ‘restless’ by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity.” Pope Leo XIV’s vision of the Church as missionary is deeply connected to the teachings of Pope Francis, and in many ways, it builds upon and continues them. His emphasis show clear continuity with the thought of his predecessor, especially in terms of missionary discipleship, an outgoing Church, and evangelization rooted in personal encounter and mercy.
The challenge before us is clear! To become a truly “outgoing Church,” we must step beyond the comfort of our walls and traditions, reaching out boldly to the margins of society with compassion and courage, to listen, to accompany, and bring the Gospel to the forgotten and excluded. Will we rise to this challenge?
