![]() ![]() Attached to the College of Propaganda Fide in Rome a Missionary Institute has been founded. The number of those studying in major seminaries, which 25 years ago was only 1,770 is now 4,300 moreover, many regional seminaries have been built. Minor seminaries have been greatly increased and strengthened. For instance in Pakistan and in some parts of Africa the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy has been juridically established three very important Plenary Councils have been held, the first in 1934 in Indochina, the second in 1937 in Australia and the third last year in India. Then all Bishops in the missions were foreigners during the past 25 years 88 missions have been entrusted to native clergy moreover with the establishment of the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy and the appointment of native Bishops in quite a few places, it has become more apparent that the religion of Jesus Christ is really Catholic and that no part of the world is excluded from it.Ħ. At that time the number of native and foreign priests in the missions was about 14,800 today their number is more than 26,800. At that date the number of Catholics in the missions did not exceed 15,000,000 while today it is almost 20,800,000. ![]() In 1926 the number of Catholic missions amounted to 400, but today it is almost 600. We should like first of all to touch here briefly on the progress that has happily been made. We gladly avail Ourselves of the 25th anniversary of the Encyclical Letter Rerum Ecclesiae to express Our appreciation of the work which has been accomplished and the great consolation it has given Us, and further to exhort all to go forward with still greater zeal: all Our venerable brethren in the Episcopacy, We mean, all missionaries, priests and individual faithful, both in missionary lands and throughout the whole world, who by their prayers, by training and helping future missionaries, or by obtaining material aid promote this most important work.ĥ. They are the motives that spur each one of you on to reach your goal, which is the establishment of the Kingdom of God throughout the whole world."Ĥ. We refer to that Christian faith and universal Christian charity which transcend all opposing camps and national boundaries and reach out to the ends of the earth. It is in keeping with your apostolate not to be hampered by any national frontiers for your work which unites you in fraternal cooperation, clearly manifests to all that note of the Catholic Church which rejects discord, flees division, and abhors all disputes which agitate nations and sometimes bring them to utter ruin. On that occasion when We addressed the directors of the above mentioned Work, We made the following observations among others: ". For missionaries preach to all men the practice of natural and Christian virtues and that brotherly and common fellowship which transcends racial conflicts and national frontiers.ģ. In view of the upheavals and dangers of the present time, when not a few peoples are divided by conflicting interests, We consider it very opportune on the present occasion to reiterate Our approval of this work. As We remarked in an audience on June 24, 1944, to the directors of the Pontifical Missionary Work "The Catholic missionary movement both in Christian and pagan lands has gained such force and momentum and is of such proportions as perhaps was never witnessed before in the annals of Catholic missions."Ģ. The consideration of the progress this holy cause has made in the intervening years has brought Us no small consolation. TO OUR VENERABLE BRETHREN, PATRIARCHS, PRIMATES,ĪRCHBISHOPS, BISHIOPS, AND OTHER LOCAL ORDINARIESĮNJOYING PEACE AND COMMUNION WITH THE APOSTOLIC SEEĬatholic missionaries toiling in a vast field of labor "that the word of the Lord may run its course triumphantly" are in Our thoughts in a special way on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Encyclical Letter Rerum Ecclesiae of Our Predecessor of immortal memory Pius XI, wherein he laid down wise norms for the greater development of Catholic missions.
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