100 years. One Church. One mission.

For 100 years, Catholics around the world have come together on World Mission Sunday to pray for missionaries and support the young and growing Churches they serve. This year, Pope Leo XIV is inviting us to carry that legacy forward.

In a new video for the 100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday, the Holy Father reflects on his own connection to this extraordinary day—from celebrating during his youth in the United States to experiencing the prayers and generosity of Catholics around the world during his missionary ministry in Peru.

And what a difference a century has made.

In 1925, mission territories included 296 jurisdictions and about 9.6 million Catholics. Today there are 1,131 mission territories serving more than 346 million Catholics. These areas are also home to 124,309 Catholic schools and 26,318 social institutions. Behind those numbers are generations of Catholics who prayed, sacrificed and gave—often for brothers and sisters they would never meet.

Now it is your turn.

Watch Pope Leo XIV’s message and join Catholics everywhere on October 18 as we celebrate 100 years of World Mission Sunday.

One in Christ, united in mission.