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Pope Leo XIV speaks to students in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican Oct. 30, 2025, as part of the Jubilee of the World of Education. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Vatican announces theme for World Mission Sunday 2026


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Catholic News Service Filed Under: Missions, News, World News

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When the Catholic Church celebrates World Mission Sunday for the 100th time in 2026, it will focus on theme, “One in Christ, united in mission.”

The theme, chosen by Pope Leo XIV, is a reflection of his episcopal motto, “In Illo uno unum,” or literally “In the One, we are one.”

The Vatican announced Oct. 31 the theme for the 2026 observance, which will be celebrated Oct. 18. A papal message on the theme is expected in early February.

The theme “highlights the unity of believers in the faith, founded on the unity of Christ with the Father, and the consequent shared mission of evangelization,” the Vatican said.

For World Mission Sunday, Catholics around the globe spend time learning about the Catholic missions, pray in support of missionaries and make donations to support the work of the church in mission lands.

Ahead of the 2025 celebration, Pope Leo had issued a video explaining that “when I served as a missionary priest and then bishop in Peru, I saw first-hand how the faith, the prayer and the generosity shown on World Mission Sunday can transform entire communities.”

As an Augustinian priest, Pope Leo had served in the missions in Peru from 1985 to 1999 and then as apostolic administrator and later bishop of Chiclayo from 2014 to 2023.

Pope Pius XI instituted World Mission Sunday in 1926 to ensure that Catholics around the world shared responsibility for the missionary work of the church.

SSPX carries out unauthorized consecration of 4 bishops despite pope’s warningagainst it

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Despite a personal appeal from Pope Leo XIV, the Society of St. Pius X went ahead July 1 with the unauthorized consecration of four new bishops at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland, with Mass broadcasted live and thousands of faithful attending.

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Pope Leo XIV calls for solidarity, prayers after deadly Venezuela quakes

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Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for the victims of devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela as the death toll continues to climb and rescuers race to save people trapped under collapsed buildings.

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Cardinals reflect on Pope Leo XIV’s June consistory: ‘We’re starting to get to know each other’

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Cardinals from around the world wrapped up a two-day extraordinary consistory on June 27 saying Pope Leo XIV’s initiative of convening the College of Cardinals twice in six months has already had one clear achievement — it has helped the cardinals to get to know one another.

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Who are the 4 US archbishops receiving the pallium from Pope Leo XIV?

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Four American archbishops have traveled to Rome to receive the pallium from Pope Leo XIV on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, joining newly appointed metropolitan archbishops from around the world in a centuries-old tradition.

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Pope Leo tells cardinals war is ‘never blessed by God’

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Opening the first day of his second consistory with cardinals from around the world, Pope Leo XIV condemned war as “never blessed by God” while urging the Church’s leaders to embrace a style of listening and collaboration

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Pope Leo hosts Pulitzer Prize-winning authors at Vatican for discussion on power of written word

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Pulitzer Prize winners, a Nobel laureate, celebrated novelists and authors from nearly a dozen countries met at the Vatican June 24 for an audience with Pope Leo XIV, who reflected on the importance of books to reveal who we are and “our inner dialogue with God.”

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