The Catholic Church marked the 100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday on Oct. 18, commemorating an observance established in 1926 by Pope Pius XI to support the Church’s missionary work worldwide.
When Pope Pius XI instituted World Mission Sunday, mission territories encompassed around 300 jurisdictions serving roughly 10 million Catholics. Today, that footprint has expanded to more than 1,000 mission territories ministering to over 300 million faithful.
Offerings collected in every parish on World Mission Sunday go to the Holy Father’s Universal Solidarity Fund, coordinated globally by the Pontifical Mission Societies, or Missio.
Managed through local bishops and religious orders, the funds provide support across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The centenary carried the theme chosen by Pope Leo XIV, “One in Christ, United in Mission,” echoing his episcopal vision, In Illo uno unum (“In the One, we are one”).
In Thailand, where Catholics represent a small minority, the centenary highlighted local challenges and the universal call to mission.
Fr. Piyachart Makornkan, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Thailand, said mission work is fundamentally about communion.
“On World Mission Sunday, we gather to advocate for and walk alongside young and struggling local churches on the front lines of evangelization,” he said.
“In a world so often marked by division and isolation, our missionary calling impels us to build bridges of compassion, solidarity, and hope. As one body in Christ, we journey together listening, serving, and sharing a love that transforms hearts and communities,” the priest added.
Fr. Makornkan said acts of faith and generosity, whether at home or elsewhere, strengthen communion and reveal the living presence of Christ.
Bishop Paul Trairong Multree of the Diocese of Surat Thani, who previously served as national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies and as a missionary in Cambodia, emphasized that evangelization belongs to every believer.
“What I find particularly challenging is the call to foster unity: how can we — with all our differences in roles, responsibilities, abilities, and perspectives — move forward together to proclaim the love of Jesus?” he asked.
The Diocese of Surat Thani covers a vast territory in southern Thailand, where Catholics comprise roughly 0.1% of the population.
Bishop Trairong relies on mobile evangelization teams, Catholic schools and interfaith dialogue with Buddhist and Muslim neighbors to build harmonious, faith-filled communities.
In northern Thailand, Bishop Peter Suphot Roeksujarit of Chiang Mai marked a dual jubilee: 100 years of World Mission Sunday and 95 years of the Gospel in his diocese.
Nearly 90% of Catholics in the diocese belong to Indigenous hill tribes. The diocese relies on local priests, international missionary orders, and hundreds of lay catechists to bridge language and cultural distances.
“With gratitude, we remember the missionaries, catechists, and fellow believers who sowed the seeds of the Gospel, allowing them to grow into a community of faith amidst a diverse population of many languages and cultures,” said Bishop Suphot.
The bishop added, “I invite everyone to use this celebration as an opportunity to rekindle the missionary spirit within us — to transition from being mere recipients of the Good News to becoming those who share it.”
Ahead of World Mission Sunday, the Vatican’s Fides News Agency released its annual statistical dossier compiled by Luca Mainoldi from the latest Church Book of Statistics.
The figures showed that the global Catholic population reached 1.422 billion, representing 17.8% of the world’s 7.99 billion people, as of June 30, 2024. The figure reflected an annual increase of 16.69 million Catholics.
The Americas had the largest Catholic population at 678.87 million, representing 64% of its population. Africa followed with 288.31 million Catholics, surpassing Europe with 287.24 million. Asia had 156.17 million Catholics, while Oceania had 11.56 million.
The total number of priests worldwide rose for the first time in five years, increasing by 425 to 407,421.
The number of women religious and major seminarians declined globally, while Africa was the only continent to record growth in both categories.
The Fides report also said active contributions from lay missionaries and catechists continue to expand worldwide.
