The theme for World Mission Day this year centered on a statement of St. Paul in his Second Letter to the Corinthians (4:13): “I believed and therefore I spoke.”
The missionary spirit is a very important characteristic in the life of every Christian, who should witness to his/her faith with the same steadfastness as the Apostle Paul.
In his Message for the occasion, Pope Benedict XVI made explicit reference to the fundamental relationship between faith and mission, saying:
“This year the celebration of World Mission Day has a very special meaning. The 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council and the opening of the Year of Faith and of the Synod of Bishops on the theme of the New Evangelization contribute to reaffirming the Church’s desire to engage with greater courage and zeal in the missio ad gentes so that the Gospel may reach the very ends of the earth.”