Pontifical Mission Societies

Group of Catholic missionary societies

The Pontifical Mission Societies

Palazzo di Propaganda Fide, seat of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
Agency overview
Formed| 1922; 103 years ago (1922)
Superseding agency|

* Dicastery for Evangelization

Jurisdiction| Catholic Church
Headquarters| Palazzo di Propaganda Fide, Rome
Agency executives|

* 1\. Franciscus, Supreme Pontiff
* 2\. Archbishop-elect Emilio Nappa, President
* 3\. Luis Antonio Gokim Cardinal Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples

Website| https://www.ppoomm.va/en.html

Missio building, Aachen

The Pontifical Mission Societies (TPMS), known in some countries as Missio, is the name of a group of Catholic missionary societies that are under the jurisdiction of the Pope. These organizations include the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, the Holy Childhood Association and the Missionary Union of Priests and Religious.[1]

These four societies each received the title "pontifical" in 1922[1] to indicate their status as official instruments of the pope and of the universal Catholic Church. In most countries, the national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies heads the four societies, as is the case in the United States, and oversees the World Missions Sunday Collection, which is taken up on the third Sunday of October each year in every Catholic parish around the globe.[1][2]

The Pope specifically asks the Pontifical Mission Societies to help bring the messages of Christ to the world, especially in countries where Christianity is new, young or poor. The societies care for and support the younger churches until they are able to be self-sufficient.[3] The Pontifical Mission Societies have, as their primary purpose, the promotion of a universal missionary spirit - a spirit of prayer and sacrifice - among all baptized Catholics. The first three Societies, in carrying out that goal, invite baptized Catholics to express their missionary commitment by offering their prayers, personal sacrifices and financial support for the work of the Church in the Missions. The Missionary Union of Priests and Religious works to deepen mission awareness among priests, men and women Religious, catechists and educators so that they are fully prepared to take on the mission formation of the faithful.[4]

"The Pontifical Mission Societies" raise awareness and foster prayer and cooperation in the whole Catholic Church, with 120 offices worldwide. It is the only organization which supports every one of the 1,200 mission dioceses of the world. "The Pontifical Mission Societies" exist through the generosity of Catholics and plays a crucial role in combating poverty, disease, injustice and exploitation.[5][6][7][8]

The election of Pope Leo XIV in 2025 brought renewed attention to the Church’s missionary mandate and affirmed the centrality of the Pontifical Mission Societies in carrying it out. A former missionary bishop in Peru,[9] the Holy Father spoke in his inaugural Urbi et Orbi address of the Church’s need to be “a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges and encourages dialogue,”[10] a vision rooted in his pastoral experience. In his first address to the General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies, he described TPMS as the “primary means of awakening missionary responsibility among all the baptized,” citing their support for mission territories, education, and vocations.[11] He emphasized the urgency of evangelization in today’s wounded world and called for a renewed spirit of “missionary discipleship” across the global Church. Highlighting the themes of communion and universality, Pope Leo encouraged TPMS to help all Catholics see beyond their local contexts and embrace the Church’s mission to “bring to all peoples… the Gospel promise of true and lasting peace.” He affirmed the Societies' role in forming “missionaries of hope among all peoples,” aligning their global presence with the Church’s commitment to peace, dialogue, and solidarity.

On 26 June 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Protase Rugambwa, who until then had been serving as bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kigoma, Tanzania, as the Deputy Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and as President of the Pontifical Mission Societies, naming him an archbishop. He succeeded Archbishop Piergiuseppe Vacchelli.[12] Rugambwa ceased to be president after becoming Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples on November 9, 2017,[13] with Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso replacing him.[14]

On December 2, 2022, Pope Francis appointed Italian Archbishop Emilio Nappa as adjunct secretary of the new Dicastery for Evangelization with the office of president of the Pontifical Mission Societies. Until then, the Naples' born priest had been an official of the Vatican's Secretariat for the Economy.[15]

Since Acp. Charles Asa Schleck's concurrent appointment as Undersecretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and President of the Pontifical Mission Societies, the two appointments have been concurrent (though with the title Adjunct Secretary):

* Archbishop Charles Asa Schleck (1995–2001)
* Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith (2001–2004)
* Archbishop Piergiuseppe Vacchelli (2004–2012)
* Archbishop Protase Rugambwa (2012–2017)
* Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso (2017–2022)
* Archbishop Emilio Nappa (2022–present)

## The Pontifical Mission Societies USA

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The Pontifical Mission Societies (TPMS) in the United States work through local Bishops, churches, and missionary congregations to ensure that resources are distributed equitably and justly, based on the needs of individual Churches.

The money goes directly from the United States to the Bishops in the mission territories, allowing for a direct link between the two local Churches.[16]

TPMS-USA is guided by a National Director and a highly respected, accomplished, and faithful Board of episcopal and lay Catholic leaders. The Board advises on strategy, vision and direction, provides oversight on the governance of the organization, and ensures our financial sustainability. Each member of the Board is an ambassador of The Pontifical Mission Societies in their dioceses and spheres of influence.[17]

Archbishop Fulton Sheen, now “Venerable” was director of the Pontifical Mission Societies from 1950 – 1966.[18] In the Fall of 1951, he began his famous television series, Life is Worth Living.[19] The rich content and dramatic presentation of his one-man television program soon attracted 30 million viewers. As SPF director, Bishop Sheen worked tirelessly to promote mission awareness and raise funds for the poor churches in mission lands. He started a pocket-sized Mission magazine and wrote his own crisp text, illustrated with graphic photos from the mission world. He also devised a mission Rosary with each of the five decades a different color to represent the missions in Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific Islands.[20]

Father Andrew Small (OMI - Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate) was appointed in 2011 as the National Director for the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States.[21] In August 2013, Father Small travelled to Lisieux to collect the writing desk (the écritoire) of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, on which she wrote the spiritual classic Story of a Soul. The Pontifical Mission Societies sponsored a tour of the desk in the United States from August to October 2013.[22]

In April 2021, Monsignor Kieran E. Harrington of the Diocese of Brooklyn, was named the new national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the U.S. The appointment was made by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Monsignor Harrington succeeded Father Andrew Small, OMI, who had completed his second five-year term.[23]

In February 2024, Harrington stepped down from his position and Rev. Anthony D. Andreassi was appointed as ad interim National Director of The Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States.[24][25] In his capacity of National Director, he oversees the U.S. efforts to raise awareness of and gather a Universal Solidarity Fund of support for the Holy Father’s missions throughout Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Islands, as well as parts of Latin America and Europe.

He previously served as the provost of the Brooklyn Oratory and the principal of Regis High School in New York City. He holds a doctorate in history from Georgetown University with a concentration on American Catholicism.[26] He is the author of Teach Me to Be Generous: A History of Regis High School in New York City (2014).[27]

On September 5, The Pontifical Mission Societies in the U.S.A. announced the appointment of Monsignor Roger J. Landry as the new national director, effective in January 2025.[28]

Monsignor Landry, a priest from the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, is currently the chaplain at Columbia University in New York. He served for seven years as a representative of the Holy See at the United Nations, and was designated by Pope Francis in 2016 as a permanent Missionary of Mercy.[29][30]

## See also

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* Ignaci Siluvai

## References

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1. ^ a b c Christine (14 April 2021). "Msgr. Kieran Harrington Named Director of the National Pontifical Mission Societies". The Tablet. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
2. ^ TPMS-US
3. ^ "Nuncio to US: World Mission Sunday, concrete help for universal Church - Vatican News". www.vaticannews.va. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
4. ^ "World Mission Organizations | USCCB". www.usccb.org. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
5. ^ "Pontifical Mission Societies, Canada". Retrieved 1 December 2016.
6. ^ "Missio, U.K." Retrieved 22 July 2015.
7. ^ "About us". Pontifical Mission Societies, India. Archived from the original on 22 April 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
8. ^ B. Lucas, "The history of the Pontifical Missions in Australia – what the past can teach the future", Journal of the Australian Catholic Historical Society 37 (1) (2016) Archived 2 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine, 82–90.
9. ^ CNA. "Pope Leo XIV's missionary work in Peru". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
10. ^ "First "Urbi et Orbi" Blessing of the Holy Father Leo XIV". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
11. ^ "To Members of Pontifical Mission Societies (22 May 2025) | LEO XIV". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
12. ^ "Disclaimers and APPOINTMENTS, 26.06.2012". Microsofttranslator.com. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
13. ^ "Tanzanian appointed secretary of Congregation for Evangelization of Peoples". Catholic News Agency. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
14. ^ "PMO". Archived from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
15. ^ "Resignations and Appointments". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
16. ^ "Pontifical Mission Societies launches fund for quake victims in Turkey, Syria - Vatican News". www.vaticannews.va. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
17. ^ "National Directors". Pontifical Mission Societies.
18. ^ "Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen – Pontifical Mission Societies". phillymissions.org. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
19. ^ Ave, The Catholic University of America 620 Michigan; Washington, N. E.; Us, DC 20064 Contact. "Biography of Fulton J. Sheen". The Catholic University of America. Retrieved 1 August 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
20. ^ Maurovich, Frank (18 October 2012). "Archbishop Sheen Brought Missions to Vatican II". Catholic New York. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
21. ^ "CNS Nnews Briefs 23 June 2011". Catholicnews.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
22. ^ "About the tour". Saint Therese of Lisieux. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
23. ^ "Monsignor Kieran Harrington of Diocese of Brooklyn Named National Director of the National Pontifical Mission Societies". USCCB. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
24. ^ "Priest resigns Pontifical Mission Societies USA post after claim of misconduct 'with adult' substantiated". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
25. ^ CNA. "Priest resigns as head of Pontifical Missions USA, admits he broke vow of celibacy". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
26. ^ Affairs, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World. "Anthony D. Andreassi". berkleycenter.georgetown.edu. Retrieved 16 February 2024.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
27. ^ "Review: The British monarchy's fraught (and sometimes bloody) history with Catholicism". America Magazine. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
28. ^ Christian, Gina (5 September 2024). "New head of US papal missions wants to 'bring God to the ends of the earth' through the Eucharist - OSV News". www.osvnews.com. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
29. ^ CNA. "Father Landry appointed director of Pontifical Mission Societies USA". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
30. ^ "Pope Francis Names Father Roger Landry a Monsignor". NCR. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2025.

## External links

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