Pope Francis: Christion Mission is to Proclaim the Gospel by Word and Life

"Pope Francis centered his Angelus address this Sunday on what it means to evangelize the poor, and how this is the mission of the Church.

"'Evangelize the poor: this is the mission of Jesus; this is also the mission of the Church, and of all the baptized in the Church,' the Pope said Jan. 24 to the crowds in Saint Peter's Square. 'To be a Christian and to be a missionary is the same thing.'

"'What does it mean to evangelize the poor? It means to be close to them, to serve them, to free them from oppression, and all this in the name and with the Spirit of Christ, because he is the Gospel of God, he is the mercy of God, and he is the liberation of God.'"

A recent Catholic News Agency article reported on this message from Pope Francis, in which he stated the "the proclamation of the Gospel, by word and life, 'is the main purpose of the Christian community and all of its members.'"

To access the complete Catholic News Agency report, please visit:

Catholic News Agency: Evangelize the poor: that is your mission, Pope says (24 JAN 16)