One of my most treasured memories from this past October’s Mission Month was celebrating the Missionary Jubilee in Rome at the start of the month. Several moments stand out—moments that, in hindsight, capture the essence of my experiences over the past ten years and give me profound reasons to hope.

From my seat in St. Peter’s Square, I watched Pope Leo XIV standing in his popemobile, almost lost among the throngs of pilgrims gathered for the Missionary Jubilee on the morning of October 4. This new pope—an Augustinian missionary with dual U.S. and Peruvian nationality—welcomed countless photos and videos from pilgrims, all eager and moved to see him in person.

During his catechesis, I joined the pilgrims in reflecting on the day’s Gospel. He invited us to choose God, just as Francis and Clare of Assisi did 800 years ago. I realized more deeply that Mission is expressed through Gospel-inspired choices that serve the Kingdom of justice and peace inaugurated by Christ.

After the catechesis came the audience—my second chance to meet Pope Leo XIV. This pope, whose appearance on the loggia had surprised many media outlets on election day, shows himself accessible to everyone. When my turn came, I greeted him in my own language: “Thank you, Holy Father, for your blessing on our country, our families, and the Pontifical Mission Societies.” I told him that Canada prays for his pontificate. Without hesitation, he responded in French: “Canada is a beautiful and great country.” His gaze and his heart connected with my culture and that of so many others. Having greeted bishops from mission territories and now the 20 national directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies from every continent, it was moments like this that make the word Catholic come alive.

Echoes of a Missionary Encounter

Later that afternoon, an international missionary meeting at the prestigious Urbaniana University—part of the Missionary Jubilee—left a deep impression on me. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, encouraged us to discern new horizons for Mission in light of the ever-evolving human landscape.

For Cardinal Tagle, missionary collaboration helps expand communion among peoples. Christ, he reminded us, models a new humanity, a new and universal fraternity.

He also highlighted the transformative power of modern communication, praising social media as a space where new “pages of the Gospel” can emerge—epiphanies and manifestations of God’s love. “Mission is epiphany and the fulfillment of God’s plan,” he emphasized.

Additionally, he called for solid formation to foster missionary pastoral care in every diocese, supporting the missionary activity of all baptized faithful. This, he said, is the urgent challenge of the Dicastery for Evangelization today.

Change at the Heart of Mission

Returning from Rome, I felt challenged and changed—a Pentecost alive within me. During the Jubilee audience, the Pope said that the world changes if we change. These simple words capture the essence of Mission this Mission Month: a journey of ongoing conversion, walking together in a way that transforms hearts and, through them, the world.

The world can change. I believe it—and hope for it—with all my heart. To be missionaries of hope in our times is no small task. Yet I am confident that the Spirit is at work. If Mission comes from God, the Spirit is already present among the peoples.

Over the past ten years of missionary journeys, I have met countless faces—men, women, children, and youth—filled with the Lord. Whether in Africa, Asia, Latin America, at the Vatican, or in missionary congresses, it is clear that the Spirit of Pentecost continues to guide us, urging us to live differently. Yes, let us bring hope to life, trusting that the world is changing for the good… for the good of all.

By Yoland Ouellet, O.M.I.