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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.

Vatican confirms Pope Leo XIV voted by mail in Illinois midterms

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Pope Leo XIV has submitted his vote by mail-in ballot for the upcoming Illinois midterm elections, the Vatican confirmed.

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Continue Reading Vatican confirms Pope Leo XIV voted by mail in Illinois midterms

Pope Leo requested mail ballot for Illinois midterms, says clerk

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Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV requested a mail ballot for the upcoming Illinois midterm elections, according to a county official.

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Continue Reading Pope Leo requested mail ballot for Illinois midterms, says clerk

Pope Leo sends special message of support to interfaith immigration policy summit

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Pope Leo XIV sent a special message of support to an interfaith immigration policy summit hosted by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, also known as CLINIC, Oct. 29.

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Continue Reading Pope Leo sends special message of support to interfaith immigration policy summit

Election cycle will influence when pope heads to US, top Vatican diplomat says

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The first U.S.-born pope is very much looking forward to eventually visiting his native country even as he prepares to head to Latin America — his seventh papal trip abroad after his election a year and a half ago, the Vatican foreign minister said.

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Continue Reading Election cycle will influence when pope heads to US, top Vatican diplomat says

Pope Leo to meet with abuse victims during Latin America visit, Vatican says

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The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will meet with victims of clergy sexual abuse in Latin America.

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Continue Reading Pope Leo to meet with abuse victims during Latin America visit, Vatican says

Catholics must engage with modern culture, not reject it, pope says

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Catholics must not live their faith in opposition or “hostility” toward modern culture, Pope Leo XIV said, emphasizing that integrating faith and culture is essential to living out the Christian vocation and sharing the Gospel with others.

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Continue Reading Catholics must engage with modern culture, not reject it, pope says

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