As he walked into his private audience with members of the Italian Conference of Missionary Institutes, Pope Francis was met with song.
The group gathered at the Vatican to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The Pope thanked them for devoting half a century to serving the Church and warned them that neglecting their spiritual lives can negatively effect their mission.
POPE FRANCIS
Mission and communion spring from prayer and are shaped day by day by listening to the Word of God.
Without these foundations, they become empty and end up being reduced to a mere sociological or welfare dimension.
Closing the meeting, Pope Francis encouraged the members of the Italian Conference of Missionary Institutes to continue their work with courage. He extended his blessing to the missionaries and asked them to pray for him as well.
AT
