SACRA CONGREGATIO
PRO GENTIUM EVANGELIZATIONE
On the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the Decree AD GENTES on the missionary activity of
the Church and celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the Encyclical Letter REDEMPTORIS MISSIO
by the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II regarding the permanent validity of the missionary mandate, I
am pleased to present the
STATUTE
of the
PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES
After the final approval of the STATUTES of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) by His
Holiness John Paul II on 26th June 1980, the updating which was required “every five years” lasted
for over twenty five years. During this period, following the instructions of the Supreme Pontiff, a
number of studies were carried out by experts of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples
(CEP) and work was conducted by several commissions of missiologists as well as National
Directors of the PMS.
Various factors contributed to the extension of this period of updating: the new Code of Canon Law
(25th January 1983); the Encyclical Letter Redemptoris Missio (7th December 1990); publication of
the Instruction of the CEP Cooperatio Missionalis (1st October 1998), which introduced new
operational structures; and rapid changes in the socio-political and religious circumstances in
mission territories as well as the direct engagement of Churches and laity in the missionary field.
In this new context which is in continuous renewal, the PMS have seen a reconfirmation of their
position within the Church, following the instructions of the Second Vatican Council: “These
Societies should be given the first place...” (AG 38). They remain faithful to their charism of
missionary animation and cooperation at every ecclesial level and in every ecclesial state: “This
must be our motto: All the Churches united for the conversion of the whole world”. (RM 84)
“Because they are under the auspices of the Pope and of the College of Bishops, ... in the exercise
of their activities these Societies depend at the worldwide level on the Congregation for the
Evangelisation of Peoples; at the local level they depend on the Episcopal Conferences and the
bishops of individual Churches, in collaboration with existing promotional centres. The Societies
bring to the Catholic world that spirit of universality and of service to the Church’s mission, without
which authentic cooperation does not exist” (RM 84).
It was therefore a primary obligation to draw up this STATUTE. This task took three years and
required committed work of National Directors during two Annual Assemblies (2003, 2004), as
well as the collaboration of Bishops and National Directors, representing five continents, in two
Special Assemblies.
The final draft of the document has been divided into two parts: I. History and Doctrine; II Norms.
15 August 2005 2
The text of the STATUTE, after a thorough examination and approval by a Plenary session of the
members of the CEP, in compliance with the desire of His Holiness John Paul II, was signed by
myself on the occasion of the Annual Assembly of the PMS, held exceptionally in Lyon, on the
occasion of the opening of the renovated house of Pauline Marie Jaricot, on 6th May 2005.
It is my wish that the updated norms will contribute to giving new impetus to those who, with a
special commitment, dedicate themselves to missionary animation and cooperation within the
Church.
This STATUTE will enter into force on 26th June 2005, on the 25th Anniversary of its final
approval by John Paul II.
Office of the CEP, 2nd June 2005
First year of the Pontificate of His Holiness Benedict XVI
Crescenzio Cardinal SEPE
Prefect
Henryk Hoser SAC
Adjunct Secretary
President PMS
15 August 2005 3
PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES
STATUTE
I. HISTORY AND DOCTRINE
FOUNDATION OF THE MISSION “AD GENTES”
1 “The Church on earth is by its very nature missionary since, according to the plan of God the
Father, it has its origin in the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit.”1 As such, missionary
commitment is essential for the Christian community. Through such commitment, Christians are
educated and formed for mission; it confers on each of the baptised the spiritual dynamism to
gather in communion around Christ and participate in his mission.2 As the work of God in
human history, mission is not simply an instrument, but an event, which makes everyone
available to the Gospel and the Spirit.
2 Mission always has as its foundation, centre and summit of its dynamism the clear proclamation
that only in Jesus Christ “salvation is offered to all people, as a gift of God’s grace and mercy”.3
3 The missionary commitment of the Church is practised through witness of life; the proclamation
of the Gospel; the establishment of local Churches and their work of inculturation; through inter-
religious dialogue; the formation of conscience to put into practice the directives of Christian
social doctrine; reaching out to the marginalised; and the concrete service of love.
THE PRESENT RELEVANCE OF THE MISSION “AD GENTES”
4 Recognising the urgent character of mission, Pope John Paul II declared the present relevance of
the mission ad gentes and prophetically looked forward to its fruits: “I see the dawning of a new
missionary age, which will become a radiant day bearing an abundant harvest, if all Christians,
missionaries and young Churches in particular, respond with generosity and holiness to the calls
and challenges of our time”.4
History confirms the truthfulness of the statement that “faith is strengthened when it is given to
others”.5 “There has been an increase of local Churches with their own bishops, clergy and
workers in the apostolate. The presence of Christian communities is more evident in the life of
nations, and communion between the Churches has led to a lively exchange of spiritual benefits
and gifts. The commitment of the laity to the work of evangelisation is changing ecclesial life,
while particular Churches are more willing to meet with members of other Christian Churches
and other religions, and to enter into dialogue and cooperation with them. Above all, there is a
new awareness that missionary activity is a matter for all Christians, for all dioceses and
parishes, Church institutions and associations”.6 “The Church’s mission is wider than the
‘communion among Churches’”7 and this conviction leads the Churches to direct their
communion towards missionary activity.
1Vatican Ecumenical Council II Decree Ad Gentes 2
2 Cf Mk 314-15
3 Paul VI Encyclical Evangelii Nuntiandi 27
4 John Paul II Encyclical Redemptoris Missio 92
5 Redemptoris Missio 2
6 Redemptoris Missio 2
7 Redemptoris Missio 64
15 August 2005 4
5 These positive results are even more precious because they emerged from contexts that have seen
new difficulties added to old: from a more broadly spread secularised mentality, to that of
questions regarding the salvific value of non-Christian religions; from the difficulty of a
mistaken respect for consciences, which would negate the need for conversion, to the difficulty
raised by the idea that human promotion is considered as the final goal of human endeavour. The
intermingling of new geographical, cultural and social categories, characteristic of globalisation,
requires that attention be given to “new sectors in which the Gospel must be proclaimed”.8
These include urbanisation and massive growth of cities, increasing new phenomena of poverty
without precedence, migration, youth, culture, research, social communications and international
relations.9
FROM THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH TO THE MISSIONARY COOPERATION
OF ALL THE BAPTIZED
6 The sending ad gentes of the Church involves the collaboration of all believers: “As the Father
has sent me, so I have sent you”.10
“The participation of ecclesial communities and individual
believers in the fulfilment of this divine plan is called missionary cooperation”.11
This is why
the Church is pleased that together with the Congregations and the Institutes traditionally
devoted to the mission ad gentes, today new agents and forms of promotion of evangelisation
are springing up: diocesan priests and other clerics, laity, voluntary associations and families,
professional groupings, twinnings, and the exchange of personnel and pastoral experience.
7 All these new agents of evangelisation should be supported and none of them should be impeded
in “carrying out this inter-exchange of ecclesial charity and missionary dynamism”.12
Therefore
they shall be embedded in a context of communion and solidarity within which they operate or
are inserted and of which the Church is the guarantor. From their communion in diversity stems
not only a more effective mutual collaboration, but also a true ecclesial family, which is the
authentic and fundamental substance and basis for mission. This new sensitivity brings with it
also the initiatives aimed at providing information on missionary problems as well as those
devoted to the formation of a more consistent mentality and praxis of life on the collective and
personal level.
8 In order to encourage, support and coordinate communion among all the agents of mission,
various ecclesial bodies were established: commissions and offices promoted by Episcopal
Conferences, coordination among missionary Institutes, foundations for scientific research and
investigation, and other organizations in mission areas. In this context, the Second Vatican
Council not only recognised that the Episcopal College has responsibility for the universal
mission, but it also entrusted to the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples (CEP) the
task of “directing and coordinating the missionary work and missionary cooperation throughout
the world”.13
In order to further this cooperation, the Congregation “chiefly (praesertim) uses
the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS), namely the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the
Society of Saint Peter the Apostle, the Society of Holy Childhood and the Pontifical Missionary
Union of the Clergy”.14
Therefore, in the work of missionary formation and cooperation the
“first place”15
and “the leading role”16
should be given to the Pontifical Mission Societies.
8 Redemptoris Missio 37 c
9 Cf Redemptoris Missio 37
10 Jn 20 21
11 Congregation for Evangelisation of Poples Instruction Cooperatio Missionalis 1st October 1998 n 2
12 Cooperatio Missionalis 2
13 Ad Gentes 29
14 John Paul II Cost Ap Pastor Bonus 91
15 Ad Gentes 38
16 Redemptoris Missio 84
15 August 2005 5
THE ORIGIN OF THE PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES
9 The grace of missionary renewal has always helped the Church to broaden the realm of faith and
charity to the ends of the earth. In the rich context of the piety of the XIX century, the ways of
proclamation found a new dynamism thanks to some individuals, who, urged on by Christ’s love
for humanity17
and supported by a strong spirituality of continuous prayer, succeeded in living
their dedication to mission to such an extent that it is now considered as God’s gift to the
Church. It is important to recall their names: Pauline Marie Jaricot (1799-1862), the foundress
of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith; Charles Auguste Marie de Forbin-Janson (1785-
1844), bishop of Nancy, founder of the Society of Holy Childhood; Jeanne Bigard (1859-1934)
who, together with her mother Stephanie, gave life to the Society of Saint Peter the Apostle; the
Blessed Father Paolo Manna (1872-1952), a missionary and the founder and animator of the
Missionary Union of Clergy.
10 The charismatic origin of the Pontifical Mission Societies has been evident since the beginning,
in the inspiration of its founders and the vision of faith of their first co-workers. In Lyon on 3rd
May 1822 the president of various missionary groups declared clearly to their representatives
gathered there: “We are Catholics and we must establish something that is Catholic, that is
universal. We should not assist this or that mission, but all the missions of the world”.18
The history of the individual Societies has subsequently confirmed their charismatic origin.
Rising spontaneously from the People of God as private apostolic initiatives of laity, they
transformed the adherence of the faithful to Christ into a lived and shared missionary
responsibility. Becoming part of various local Churches, the Societies subsequently assumed a
supra-national character and eventually were recognised as Pontifical and placed in direct
relationship with the Holy See.
THE PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES IN THE RENEWED ECCLESIAL
AND SOCIAL CONTEXTS
11 Among the changes which, after the second Vatican Council, have motivated the Pontifical
Mission Societies to re-define their own role, it is necessary to point out the new discovery of
missionary leadership of particular Churches and the emergence of new missionary agents.
These changes also helped the PMS in the drafting of richer spiritual and formative programmes
for laity and emphasising the dimension of service proper to ecclesiastical structures. The
Pontifical Mission Societies have responded to the need, perceived throughout the whole
missionary context, to propose credible forms of missionary animation and cooperation within
the new situations arising out of the collapse of old ideologies and the arrival of the phenomenon
of globalisation.19
THE NATURE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES
12 As a gift of the Spirit to the Church and the fruit of the missionary zeal of its founders, the
Pontifical Mission Societies have always encouraged the participation of all the faithful in the
apostolic life of the Church. As ecclesial institutions, they were entrusted to the direction of the
Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, upon which they depend; this body oversees
17
Cf 2Cor 5 14 18
Christiani J Servel Marie Pauline Jaricot Editions du Chalet Lyon 1964 p 39 19
Cf Redemptoris Missio 82
15 August 2005 6
their coordination for their greater effectiveness and true universality. They should be “present
and operative in every particular Church whether of ancient or new foundation”,20
and should be
recognised as the official organ21
for missionary cooperation of all the Churches and all
Christians.
These Societies rightly have “the first place”22
in missionary cooperation, as they are a precious
instrument “by which Catholics are imbued from infancy with a truly universal and missionary
spirit and also a means for instigating an effective collection of funds for all the missions, each
according to its needs”.23
The Pontifical Mission Societies are therefore proposed to all
Christians as “privileged instruments of the Episcopal College united with the Successor of Peter
and with him responsible for the People of God who are, themselves, entirely missionary”.24
13 Each Society, in its own unique way, puts into concrete reality the common call to promote the
missionary spirit within the People of God.
The Society for the Propagation of the Faith aims at forming a Catholic conscience in the
faithful combining a complete docility to the Spirit with an apostolic commitment of outreach to
the world. It also cooperates in the formation of specific missionary animators who are working
in particular Churches, to enhance a more adequate participation of the latter in the worldwide
mission. It pays special attention to the missionary formation of youth and to the missionary
dimension of the family. One of the most beautiful fruits of this Society is World Mission Day,25
established by the Sacred Congregation of Rites on 14th April 1926 and set for the penultimate
Sunday of the month of October.
The Society of Saint Peter the Apostle has the primary objective of supporting the importance of
the apostolic element in mission and the necessity for each Church to form, within the spiritual
and local cultural contexts, its own religious personnel and in particular, its own ordained
ministers. The support promoted by this Society is not purely economic, but is rooted in prayer
and in a life inspired by faith.
The Society of Holy Childhood or Missionary Children owes its name to the desire of
entrusting the Society to the protection of the Child Jesus. Convinced that children can be a
spiritual and social force for a real transformation of the world, this Society aims at creating a
movement of Christian children committed to helping other children. The Society maintains its
original missionary character and also includes a commitment to denouncing and condemning
the causes of various forms of violence suffered by children throughout the world; it contributes
towards practical initiatives of assistance. This commitment is all the more effective if carried
out in close cooperation with local Churches and in harmony with families, parishes and schools.
The Missionary Union of Clergy, anticipating and preparing the ground for the later teaching of
the Magisterium on the universal missionary dimension of priestly life,26
sets itself out to re-
awaken apostolic zeal among its members and, through them, in all Christian people. The Union
cooperates by the increase of missionary vocations and by a better distribution of clergy; this
20
Cooperatio Missionalis 5; CIC can 791 n 2 21
Cf Pastor Bonus 91 22
Ad Gentes 38 23
Ad Gentes 38 24
Letter of Paul VI to Cardinal Alessandro Renard Archbishop of Lyon on the occasion of the International Missionary
Congress 22nd October 1972 25
Redemptoris Missio 81 26
Cf Vatican Ecumenical Council II Decree Presbyterorum Ordinis 10
15 August 2005 7
thereby highlights the value of cooperation among Churches. It animates the People of God by
making clear their missionary duty; it is a spiritual force aimed at the conversion of the world.
14 Recognising that the responsibility for worldwide mission belongs to each baptised person, the
laity from the very outset have played an important role in the activity and direction of the
Pontifical Mission Societies. The demand of mission calls for a re-launch and appreciation of
their participation in this field, at diocesan, national and international levels.
PONTIFICAL, EPISCOPAL AND AUTONOMOUS CHARACTER OF THE
PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES
15 The Mission Societies were recognised as Pontifical after they became deeply rooted and
acquired an international character. This recognition was awarded to the first three Societies –
Propagation of the Faith, Saint Peter the Apostle and Holy Childhood – on 3rd May 1922 with
the Motu Proprio Romanorum Pontificum of Pius XI. The Missionary Union of Clergy became
Pontifical with the Decree of Pius XII on 28th October 1956. This recognition is a guarantee of
the full ecclesiastical status of the Societies, promoting their spread throughout the Church and
ensuring a more coherent structure.
16 In a special way, the Pontifical Mission Societies are at the service of the Roman Pontiff, head of
the College of Bishops and the foundation and sign of the unity and universality of the Church.
By virtue of his ministry, the Supreme Pastor knows and feels more than anyone else the
pressing needs of each Church. He has the duty of reminding the other Pastors of their
worldwide missionary responsibility, and invites them to participate in a common effort with
him for the evangelisation of the world.27
The Societies are entrusted by the Holy Father to the
Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples,28
and following its guidelines they develop their
own planning and collaboration at various levels of responsibility, in accordance with the
Church’s ministry of worldwide evangelisation.
17 “While they belong to the Pope, they belong also to the whole Episcopate and to the whole
People of God”.29
For this reason the Pontifical Societies are and continue to be also Episcopal
Societies, rooted in the life of the particular Churches.30
Promoted by the Bishops at diocesan
and national levels, these Societies rightly depend on them, within the sphere of their
competency, whilst taking into account their pontifical character and in full respect of their
Statute.
The episcopal character of their ecclesial service gives to the Societies yet another important
reason for their service to the benefit of the mission. In fact, for each diocese these Societies
constitute a specific, privileged and principle means of education in the worldwide missionary
spirit, as well as for inter-ecclesial communion and collaboration in the service of the
proclamation of the Gospel.
18 The historical granting of pontifical and episcopal character to the Societies, born from the zeal
of laywomen and priests who were passionate about the mission, does not diminish the
autonomy of the Societies; rather it broadens, strengthens and guarantees its exercise. The
autonomy of the Societies consists in maintaining their identity and their aims.31
27
Cf Christus Dominus 6 11 28
Cf Pastor Bonus 85 91 29
Paul VI Message for the 1968 World Missions Day; Cooperatio Missionalis 4 30
Cf Redemptoris Missio 84 31
Cf Cooperatio Missionalis 6
15 August 2005 8
THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES
19 Among many forms of service to the mission, the Pontifical Mission Societies have always had
as their main objective the support of evangelisation in the strict sense. Whilst not excluding
involvement in such areas as human promotion and development and in collaboration with
Catholic bodies and associations devoted to social and health assistance, the Societies maintain
that “the best service we can offer to our brothers and sisters is evangelisation, which helps them
to live and act as children of God, sets them free from injustices and assists their overall
development”.32
Through a fund of solidarity (cf. Art. 61), the Pontifical Mission Societies give priority to
assisting those Churches in difficult situations and with greater needs. In a respectful manner,
they assist them to tackle their basic pastoral and missionary needs in view of their gradual
autonomy, bringing them to a position of responding in turn to the needs of others.33
FUNDS OF UNIVERSAL SOLIDARITY
20 The common concern for the missionary needs of the whole Church and each particular Church,
have transformed the Pontifical Mission Societies into an expression of communion and
universal solidarity. In their work of spreading awareness they must explain to the faithful and
their pastors the priority of the universal character of missionary cooperation. They collaborate
with the Bishops so that particular initiatives do not prejudice the common commitment towards
the evangelisation of peoples.
To that end, the first three Societies – Propagation of the Faith, Saint Peter the Apostle and
Holy Childhood – each manage their own solidarity fund, capable of supporting assistance
programmes worldwide, avoiding every kind of favouritism and discrimination. The most
important of these funds is the universal solidarity fund (cf. Art. 10f), promoted and managed by
the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. This Society manages the offerings received,
especially during the World Mission Day, for the benefit of all initiatives of missionary
cooperation.
The Pontifical Mission Societies annually plan this mutual and fraternal assistance, keeping in
mind the needs of all the Churches, the emerging priorities as well as the guidelines of the
Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and whatever indications are given by the
appropriate Episcopal Conferences. National Offices establish and allocate these funds in
compliance with the civil law of the countries in which they are based.
THE INSTRUMENTS AND MEANS OF MISSIONARY COOPERATION OF THE
PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES
21 Missionary cooperation, rooted in the Christian and ecclesial life, and promoted by the Pontifical
Mission Societies, concerns not only particular moments in the life of a Christian, but their
whole individual and collective life. The faithful can either join by membership of an
association that exists in a particular Society or by participation in initiatives for promotion and
support characteristic of the universal missionary cooperation. The essential basis for such
missionary cooperation lies in a profound and intense labour of animation and formation. This is
indispensable so that all the faithful can have a lively awareness of their responsibility before the
32
Redemptoris Missio 58 33
Cf Redemptoris Missio 85
15 August 2005 9
world, cultivate in themselves a truly Catholic spirit and direct their strengths for the work of
evangelisation.34
22 Moreover, missionary cooperation finds in the Pontifical Mission Societies a strong
organisational instrument which is capable of supporting individual and collective dynamism
through formation programmes. These are aimed at information, celebration and solidarity. Thus
it inspires a more solid vocational growth and orientation35
and calls for the sharing of the proper
charisms of the Church and Christians.
To reach these goals, the Pontifical Mission Societies disseminate information concerning the
life and the needs of the worldwide mission. They prompt mutual prayer between particular
Churches and strive to enhance a reciprocal exchange of personnel and material resources. To
the various initiatives, brought to life throughout their history, the Pontifical Mission Societies
continuously add other praiseworthy forms of animation, formation and cooperation, following
the inspirations of the Spirit and the needs of new missionary situations.36
34
Cf Ad Gentes 36 35
Cf Redemptoris Missio 79 36
Cf Redemptoris Missio 82
15 August 2005 10
II NORMS
TITLE I
THE PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES
“Because they are under the auspices of the Pope and of the College of Bishops, these Societies,
also within the boundaries of the particular Churches, rightly have “the first place, since they are
the means by which Catholics from their very infancy are imbued with a genuinely universal and
missionary spirit; they are also the means which ensure an effective collection of resources for the
good of all the missions, in accordance with the needs of each one (AG 38)”.37
Chapter 1
The Pontifical Mission Societies
Art 1 The Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) are:
the Pontifical Mission Society for the Propagation of the Faith (POF);
the Pontifical Mission Society of Saint Peter the Apostle (SPA);
the Pontifical Mission Society of Holy Childhood or Missionary Children (HC);
the Pontifical Missionary Union (PMU).
Although established at different times, each through the initiative of its founder or
foundress, and having developed as distinct and autonomous entities, the four Societies now
constitute a single institution, dependent on the Congregation for the Evangelisation of
Peoples (CEP)38
. In fact although their specific and distinct natures are advantageous for the
development of each Society, it is nevertheless necessary to have one single institution for
worldwide missionary cooperation, within the context of the activities carried out by the
CEP.39
Art 2 “Each Society has a right to a certain autonomy, that is recognised by the competent
authority and indicated in the Statute.” 40
The PMS structures are central, national and
diocesan.
Art 3 From the outset, lay people have played an essential role in the activities and leadership of
the PMS. Cooperation in the universal mission of the Church is a right and the duty of all
the baptised.41
All members of the People of God, “whether as individuals or as
associations”, 42
are called to participate in this mission.43
Art 4 The four PMS share as their primary and principal aim the promotion of the spirit of
universal mission within the People of God, so that its missionary witness may be expressed
through spiritual and material cooperation in the work of evangelisation.
37
Ad Gentes 38 38
Cf Ad Gentes 29; Pastor Bonus 91 39
Cf Pastor Bonus 85 40
Cooperatio Missionalis 6 41
Cf CIC can 211 781; Redemptoris Missio 71; Cooperatio Missionalis 2 42
CIC can 225 43
Cf Lumen Gentium 17 33; Apostolicam Actuositatem 613; Ad Gentes 35-36 41; Christifideles Laici 35
15 August 2005 11
Art 5 The PMS, born of particular charismatic initiatives, lay, priestly and episcopal, have
developed with the support of the Holy See, which has subsequently transformed them into
Pontifical organisations, with the aim of ensuring their greater effectiveness and universal
character.44
Chapter 2
The Four Societies
1. The Pontifical Mission Society for the Propagation of the Faith
Art 6 The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, conscious that evangelisation is above all the
action of the Holy Spirit, encourages the faithful to give first place to prayer and a spirit of
sacrifice for mission.45
The following are its objectives:
(a) to form the People of God so that it becomes aware of its worldwide missionary
vocation;46
(b) to inform Christians about the life and needs of the Churches in mission territories,
through the exchange of news, sharing of spiritual values, the witness of solidarity in
times of trial, and moral and material support in adversity;47
(c) to increase spiritual and material assistance between particular Churches, with particular
attention to the exchange of apostolic personnel with a view to the evangelisation of the
whole world;48
(d) to promote missionary vocations ad gentes, especially those which are life-long;49
(e) to promote education to justice, especially of young people, through information and
knowledge of the social doctrine of the Church, to encourage them to help, and work
towards increasing missionary awareness leading them to offer themselves for
mission;50
towards this end the Society operates a ‘missionary youth service’;
(f) to promote economic solidarity by appealing to the generosity of Christians in the
whole world and developing a social justice and assistance programme which will
satisfy with regularity the fundamental needs of all the Churches in mission territories.51
Art 7 The Society carries out its activity throughout the whole year, but with greater intensity
during the month of October. This month must be regarded in all the countries as the Month
of Universal Mission. The penultimate Sunday, proclaimed as World Mission Day is the high
point of the month. This day is celebrated in all the particular Churches as the feast of
catholicity and universal solidarity.52
On this day Christians throughout the world become
aware of their common responsibility for the evangelisation of the world.53
44
Cf Cooperatio Missionalis 4 45
Cf Redemptoris Missio 78 46
Cf Ad Gentes 35; Redemptoris Missio 77 47
Cf Redemptoris Missio 83 48
Cf Redemptoris Missio 84; Cooperatio Missionalis 4 49
Cf Redemptoris Missio 79 83 84 50
Cf Redemptoris Missio 80 83 51
Cf Christus Dominus 6; Ad Gentes 38 52
Cf Sacred Congregation of Rites Rescritto of 14th April 1926 53
Cf Ad Gentes 36; CIC can 791 n 3; Redemptoris Missio 81
15 August 2005 12
Art 8 So that the month of October may provide Christians with the opportunity to give a
universal dimension to their missionary cooperation, and “in view of intensifying the
missionary spirit among the Christian people, prayers and daily sacrifices are to be
encouraged so that the annual Mission Day should become, as it were, the spontaneous
expression of that spirit (AG 36). Bishops are invited to ask those responsible for Catholic
organisations and the faithful to renounce any other collection of a particular nature during
that period. Bishops and Episcopal Conferences shall prepare various invocations for the
missions and include them in the Prayers of the Faithful”.54
They should also ensure that
offerings given on World Mission Day are used exclusively for the objectives of the
Universal Solidarity Fund (cf. Art. 10) and encourage their priests and laity in that spirit.
Art 9 In order to ensure the full development of the Society, those responsible will seek the
support of numerous men and women co-workers, in particular through associations and
parish movements or from other organisations, and provide them with the necessary
formation. By its nature, POF, in common with all the Societies, calls for the collaboration
of all; its members should also be promoters of the universal missionary spirit in their own
environment. Those responsible for the Society, bearing in mind the local ecclesial reality,
must judge whether it is appropriate, in line with tradition, to create an Association
composed of associated members.
Art 10 All the offerings collected by the Society constitute the Universal Solidarity Fund of the
Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
2. The Pontifical Mission Society of Saint Peter the Apostle
Art 11 The Society of Saint Peter the Apostle was founded to pursue the following objectives:
(a) to use spiritual means, especially prayer and sacrifice to beg “the Lord of the harvest to
send out labourers into his harvest”;55
(b) to make Christians aware of the need for growth in the number of vocations and the
importance of formation of local clergy in the Churches in the mission territories, so
that subsequently they may be sent to collaborate in other sister Churches;56
(c) to contribute towards the growth of clergy in Churches in mission territories, also using
the funds obtained by the establishment of scholarships, payments of pensions, fees and
other donations, to enable the building and development of numerous major,
propaedeutic and minor seminaries, both on a diocesan and inter-diocesan level;
(d) to assist in the formation of male and female candidates for consecrated life, in the
Churches of the mission territories.
Art 12 All the monies collected by the Society constitute the Universal Solidarity Fund of the
Society of Saint Peter the Apostle.
3. The Pontifical Mission Society of Holy Childhood or Missionary Children
Art 13 The Society provides assistance to particular Churches with the following objectives:
(a) to assist educators to awaken and gradually develop in both children and adolescents a
worldwide missionary consciousness, in order to guide them towards a spiritual
communion and material sharing of their resources with children of other Churches,
54
Paul VI MP Ecclesiae Sanctae III 3 55
Mt 9 38 56
Cf Cooperatio Missionalis 4
15 August 2005 13
especially those in difficulty. Everyone has something to give and to receive and their
motto is: children helping children;57
(b) to contribute towards promotion and development of missionary vocations;
(c) to prepare missionary animators who will accompany children in their journey towards a
more mature missionary consciousness. This is fulfilled through their direct
involvement in ways suitable for each country, so that children become missionaries in
their own way. To this end, structures at both local and regional level should be
established, and suitable activities for such involvement should be created.
Art 14 The Society, having a profound educational role, must take into account both in its methods
of missionary formation and in its appeals to generosity, those pedagogic principles best
suited to awaken the missionary awareness of children. Its educational activity must be
appropriate to their age, mentality, environment and abilities. Whether using its own means
or other existing catechetical structures, the Society should always be integrated into the
general pastoral work of Christian education to which it brings a missionary dimension.
Art 15 Every year the Society organises a Worldwide Day, on which it brings childrens’ attention to
the spiritual and material needs of children throughout the world. Children are encouraged to
offer to other children of the world their assistance in terms of prayers, sacrifices and
offerings, and are encouraged to discover in them the face of Jesus. Whilst drawing attention
to the needs of children who are materially poor, the riches of their spiritual values must not
be overlooked. By opening themselves to one another, children will come to know and love
each other as brothers and sisters and in this way are enriched by mutual giving.
Art 16 Because the education of children must be carried out through methods suited to them, it is
essential that those responsible for the Society at National and Diocesan level have the
required theological and catechetical competency.
Art 17 The age of children and adolescents addressed by the Society is established by the National
Council, with the consent of the Episcopal Conference and following the guidelines of the
Superior Council.
Art 18 The subscriptions and contributions of children from the various continents together
constitute the Universal Solidarity Fund of Holy Childhood to assist institutions and
activities for the benefit of children in the mission territories.
4. The Pontifical Missionary Union
Art 19 The Church is “missionary by its nature”58
. It is the task of the PMU to make this real and
operative, especially among persons called by vocation to serve the Church in the ordained
ministry, in religious and lay consecration and lay missionaries who are directly involved in
the worldwide mission.59
Art 20 The objective of the PMU is to stimulate missionary formation and awareness among priests,
members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and of Societies of Apostolic Life, consecrated
laity, candidates to priesthood and religious life in all its forms, as well as all other persons
engaged in the pastoral ministry of the Church. The Union ministers to all those who are
called to ensure that the People of God is animated both by a missionary spirit and a
57
Cf Cooperatio Missionalis 4 58
Ad Gentes 2 59
Cf Cooperatio Missionalis 4
15 August 2005 14
generous openness to missionary cooperation. The success of the other Societies depends to
a large extent on the vitality of the Pontifical Missionary Union which is “the soul of the
other Pontifical Mission Societies”.60
Art 21 To promote this missionary formation and awareness, the Union employs suitable methods,
as much by its own means as by appealing to minor and major seminaries, existing
institutions and initiatives, that have as their aim the basic and ongoing formation of clergy
and religious. The PMU assists them in gaining awareness of their responsibility towards the
worldwide mission of the Church. The Union will help them deepen their knowledge of
mission and increase their missionary sensitivity. In turn, they will promote in the
communities entrusted to them, a missionary consciousness and effective commitment to the
worldwide mission within the Church. It will encourage them to find pastoral methods most
in keeping with this objective and will strive to stimulate their apostolic commitment. To
this end the Union will also facilitate fraternal sharing and witness to solidarity among all
the apostolic workers, serving the Church in the various continents.
Art 22 It is desirable that a person responsible for the Union with the specific task of spiritual
missionary animation be present within each National Office. On the diocesan level, this
task may be carried out by the Diocesan Director of the PMS.61
60
Paul VI Apostolic Letter Graves et Increscentes 5th September 1966 61
Cf Cooperatio Missionalis 9
15 August 2005 15
TITLE II
GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
Chapter 1
Art 23 The mandate to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world belongs to the whole Church and
all its Pastors.62
With regard to the universal Church, this function is entrusted in particular
to the Roman Pontiff and to the College of Bishops,63
while for the particular Church, it is
the duty of its Bishop, who has within it the responsibility of the ministry of the word.64
Art 24 The Roman Pontiff exercises his authority over the Pontifical Mission Societies through the
Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, “which directs and coordinates missionary
work and missionary cooperation throughout the world. The rights of the Eastern Churches
must, however, be safeguarded”.65
Art 25 The Congregation “to foster missionary cooperation, even through the effective collection
and fair allocation of subsidies, chiefly uses the PMS, namely, the Society for the
Propagation of the Faith, the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, and the Society of Holy
Childhood, as well as the Pontifical Missionary Union of the Clergy”.66
Art 26 The Pontifical Mission Societies depend, at a diocesan level on the Bishop. At the national
level they also have as a point of reference the Episcopal Conference, in accordance with the
law. At the international level they also depend on Episcopal Bodies both regional and
continental, in accordance with the law.67
The PMS are promoted by these bodies, always
taking in due consideration their pontifical and universal character.68
Art 27 The co-responsibility of Bishops in the government of the PMS assumes various forms,
according to their participation in the direction of the Societies at the central, national and
diocesan level, in accordance with the current Statute.
Art 28 Though they depend on the CEP and the Bishops, the PMS retain their autonomy and are
guided by their own Statute.
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
Supreme Committee
Art 29 The Supreme Committee of the PMS “takes all the necessary steps to ensure that each of the
Pontifical Mission Societies develops regularly and effectively in its own sphere of action,
and resolves the difficulties that may arise between them”.69
62
Cf Ad Gentes 5 6 63
Cf CIC can 756 § 1 64
Cf CIC can 756 § 2 65
Ad Gentes 29; cf also Pastor Bonus 85; Redemptoris Missio 75 66
Pastor Bonus 91 67
Cf Redemptoris Missio 76 83; Cooperatio Missionalis 3 68
Cf Ad Gentes 38 69
Pius XI Motu Proprio Decessor Noster 24th June 1929 n V
15 August 2005 16
Art 30 The Supreme Committee is composed of the following members:
(a) the Cardinal Prefect of the CEP, who is its President;
(b) the Secretary of the CEP, who is its Vice-President;
(c) the President of the PMS;
(d) five Bishops, elected by the CEP in each continent, whose mandate is ad quinquennium;
(e) the Secretaries General of the four PMS;
(f) five National Directors of the PMS, elected for each continent by members of the
Superior Council, for a mandate ad quinquennium renewable once only.
Art 31 With the Supreme Committee rests the responsibility to:
(a) to ensure unity and mutual understanding between the PMS and the CEP;
(b) to encourage and offer formulations of general pastoral and economic guide-lines, in the
light of special needs and in agreement with the Superior Council;
(c) to approve the budgets of the PMS and accept the report of the Public Auditor;
(d) to approve the Internal Regulations of the PMS;
(e) to nominate ad quinquennium, following the President’s proposal, the Delegate for the
Administration.
Art 32 The Supreme Committee assembles once a year. The President can also convene the
Committee whenever he considers it necessary. The Secretary of the Committee nominated
by the President ad quinquennium, acts as scribe.
Superior Council
Art 33 The Superior Council of the PMS governs the activity of the four Societies. Its seat is in
Rome alongside the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. The Adjunct Secretary
or, in his absence the Secretary, of the Congregation, acts as the President of the Superior
Council.
Art 34 The Superior Council is composed of the following members:
(a) the President;
(b) the Secretaries General of the four Pontifical Mission Societies;
(c) the Under-Secretaries of the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State,
of the Congregation for Bishops and of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches;
(d) the National Directors of the PMS.
Art 35 The responsibilities of the Superior Council are:
(a) to study the activities and methods of animation and fundraising of the PMS in
respective countries, suggesting new initiatives in accordance with pastoral plans of the
Episcopal Conferences. Special pastoral sessions will be organised for this purpose;
(b) to decide on the fair allocation of funds raised by National Offices, according to a plan
for funding of projects, prepared by the Executive Committee (cf. Art. 40 e);
(c) to determine priorities to be observed regarding the allocation of funds;
(d) to establish norms relating to the allocation of funds, following general guidelines
established by the CEP.70
A fair – to each according to their needs – and effective
allocation of subsidies, in line with a well thought out missionary plan of pastoral
action, presupposes precise information and verification of opinions presented by the
appropriate Episcopal Conferences and by experts in particular subjects;
70
Cf Ad Gentes 29
15 August 2005 17
(e) to examine the budgets, income and expenditure accounts, and balance sheets of each
Society, prepared by the Secretaries General, and to deliberate on them;
(f) to chose a Public Auditor, who verifies the accounts of the PMS, and to propose the
name for the approval by the Cardinal Prefect of the CEP;
(g) to resolve possible organisational problems of the PMS;
(h) to establish, with the consent of the President, special “ad hoc Commissions”, which
will examine particular issues and present recommendations to the Superior Council;
(i) to propose to the Executive Committee useful initiatives for encouraging meetings at
international and regional levels organised by National Directors or by Secretaries
General, subject to prior communication with the President and the Episcopal
Conferences in question;
(j) to establish the date and duration of the May General Assembly and if necessary of the
November Special Assembly, and indicate topics for discussion;
(k) to elaborate and update its own Internal Regulations (cf. Art. 45; 31 d);
(l) to prepare and update an operational Handbook;
(m) to determine the amount of money which the Secretaries General can retain from the
budget of their respective Society to respond to requests for assistance in situations of
special emergencies. These funds will have to be allocated according to well-defined
projects and will become part of the accountability for the following year.
Art 36 The universal and communitarian character of the Superior Council is expressed through the
presence of the President himself, who represents the CEP, and of National Directors, who
come from their own respective Churches. The common good of the worldwide mission
should be their main concern. They must consider themselves first of all operators of a
service in favour of the communion among the Churches.
Assemblies
Art 37 The Superior Council gathers for its Ordinary General Assembly once a year, usually in the
month of May, convened, chaired and moderated by the President of the PMS. All the
members of the Superior Council have a duty to take part in the Ordinary General
Assembly. It has two sections, pastoral and administrative. The first is devoted mainly to the
study of missiological, pastoral and organisational topics indicated and approved beforehand
by the General Assembly. The second part is reserved for the evaluation of proposals by
Secretaries General for allocation of subsidies. During the first part the presence of experts
is allowed, while only members of the Superior Council are allowed to participate in the
second part, unless there is a question concerning the activity of the Secretary General of a
particular Society; in such a case the presence of experts, who have studied and presented
the projects in question, is also allowed. The Cardinal Prefect of the CEP has the authority
to nominate persons to participate in the second part of the Assembly.
Art 38 The President of the PMS has the authority, when regarded as necessary by him and in
agreement with the President of the Supreme Committee, to convene a Special Assembly in
November. The date and duration of such an Assembly are determined by the Ordinary
General Assembly, as proposed by its President and pending prior communication with the
Secretaries General. The Special Assembly is directed by the President of the PMS and
attended by the four Secretaries and representatives of National Directors, elected by all the
members of the Superior Council according to a quota determined on a continental basis,
established by the Superior Council itself.
15 August 2005 18
Art 39 The Cardinal Prefect of the CEP attends the meetings of the two Assemblies, if he so
wishes, in the forms and manner he considers opportune.
Executive Committee
Art 40 Within the Superior Council, there is an Executive Committee, chaired by the President of
the PMS and including the four Secretaries General. It convenes at least once every two
months, operating in compliance with its Internal Regulation, and has the following tasks:
(a) to ensure implementation of the general guide-lines given by the Supreme Committee
and the Superior Council;
(b) to organize all the Assemblies of the PMS and other similar initiatives;
(c) to assist the effective organisation of the PMS National Offices, in accord with the spirit
and the norms of the Statute;
(d) to examine and respond to urgent requests for assistance, within the limits established
by the Superior Council;
(e) to coordinate the preparation of proposals for allocation of annual subsidies;
(f) to evaluate with the Delegate for Administration financial management issues of the
PMS in general and each of the four Societies in particular. The Delegate serves the
Executive Committee, to which he is accountable and with which he will verify all
issues related to the administration and management of the PMS personnel.
President of the PMS
Art 41 The president of the PMS is the Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the
Evangelisation of Peoples, or in his absence, the Secretary of the same Congregation. The
President is nominated by the Supreme Pontiff.
Art 42 The President has the responsibility
(a) to represent the PMS in their relationship with the CEP;
(b) to chair the PMS Assemblies;
(c) to coordinate the work of the four Secretaries General;
(d) to represent the PMS at assemblies and in official meetings;
(e) to assist National Offices, and visit them when necessary;
(f) to attend to the good operation, and an orderly and transparent financial management of
the four General Secretariats.
Secretaries General
Art 43 Each Society has its own International Secretariat, directed by the Secretary General who is
nominated ad quinquennium by the CEP, pending prior consultation with the members of
the Superior Council. The mandate is renewable normally only for one other quinquennium.
Art 44 The Secretary General has the following tasks:
(a) to attend to the effective functioning of the Secretariat;
(b) to collaborate with other Secretaries General, following the guidelines of the President;
(c) to present every year proposals for subsidies, both ordinary and extraordinary, for
various projects to be presented to the Superior Council for approval;
(d) to prepare an annual general report for the Superior Council on the activity of the
Secretariat, along with a detailed report on the funds received and the subsidies granted.
15 August 2005 19
Art 45 All structures of the PMS should have their own Internal Regulations approved by the
competent authority according to both the canonical legislation in force and to the Statute.
Chapter 2
Regional and continental meetings
Art 46 The episcopal character of the PMS requires their deep understanding and collaboration with
the dioceses and Episcopal Conferences of various countries.71
The Church acknowledges
the validity and benefits of the meetings of Episcopal Conferences both at regional and
continental level.72
Therefore the PMS are committed not only “to meet the demands of
missionary reality constantly changing and requiring new forms of intervention”,73
but they
also coordinate their work of missionary animation and cooperation in the broader context of
new supra-national bodies, such as regional and continental Episcopal Conferences.74
“The
Second Vatican Council has sought to renew the life and activity of the Church in the light
of the needs of the contemporary world”75
and the various Synods of Bishops, both ordinary
and continental, have also adapted to these needs.
Art 47 In the new world context the communion between Churches “is lived in a mutual way and,
concretely, in relation to specific missionary activity. No one must be prevented from
carrying out this inter-exchange of ecclesial charity and missionary dynamism. The essential
quality of ecclesial communion is in fact its concreteness, so that it involves everyone and
reaches the actual person in his or her real-life context. Today too, we should be able to say
of Christian communities, committed to the worldwide mission, that they act ‘with one heart
and with one mind’ (Acts 4, 32)”.76
Art 48 The Superior Council will therefore facilitate contacts and collaboration among National
Offices. Some international meetings, on both regional and continental level, will provide
those responsible with an opportunity to pool opinions, information and experiences. This
will constitute a true source of enrichment for all and will offer each one the opportunity to
re-evaluate and renew, if necessary, their own views, programmes and traditional working
methods.
Art 49 Pending prior communication with the President of the PMS and the Prefect of the CEP,
regional and continental meetings of the PMS can be organized by the National Directors in
question as well as by the Secretary General of each individual Society. The Episcopal
Conferences of the region or the continent where they are held should also be notified of
these meetings. One of the National Directors can be elected as Continental or Regional
Coordinator for the duration of three years, with the task of planning the supra-national
activity of the PMS.
71
Cf Cooperatio Missionalis 6 72
Cf Redemptoris Missio 76 73
Cooperatio Missionalis 6 74
Cf CIC can 459 75
Redemptoris Missio 1 76
Cooperatio Missionalis 2
15 August 2005 20
Chapter 3
National and Diocesan Offices
Art 50 The PMS, given their nature and importance, must be present and operational in each
particular Church, both ancient and young. In this way commitment to missionary
cooperation will become the missionary consciousness of the Church.77
Art 51 Every nation should have, as a matter of course, one National Director for all the four
Societies, if they are present, or for all the four objectives they pursue. In some cases a
Director can be responsible for several nations. The National Director is the official
representative of the PMS to the local Episcopal Conference.78
Art 52 “The appointment of a National Director falls to the Congregation for the Evangelisation of
Peoples preferably after a presentation of a terna of candidates by the Bishops’ Conference,
through the Papal Representative”.79
The National Director is elected ad quinquennium. His
mandate is renewable usually only for another quinquennium. The new National Director
must be nominated, as far as possible, three months before the expiry of the mandate of the
sitting National Director.
Art 53 According to the norms of the Apostolic See and any special directions issued by the
Episcopal Conference,80
the National Director has the following responsibilities:
(a) to represent the PMS before national religious and civil authorities;
(b) to promote and direct the PMS within the nation and coordinate their functioning among
the different dioceses, in agreement with the Episcopal Conference and according to the
spirit of the Statute;
(c) to chair, as a matter of course, the National Council of the PMS;
(d) to encourage within the National Council joint reflection, and to promote animation
activities, suggesting initiatives to be carried out giving general guidelines to be
followed and coordinate various other activities;81
(e) to present the annual pastoral and financial reports of individual Societies to the
National Council and to the Episcopal Conference, through the Episcopal Commission
for the Missions, to the CEP, to the President of the Societies, and to the Secretaries
General. The financial report must be examined and signed by a Public Auditor as a
matter of course.
Art 54 The National Council of the PMS is composed of:
(a) the National Director;
(b) the National Secretaries of individual Societies;
(c) the Diocesan Directors or, if their number is high, their Delegates.
The National Council can also be composed differently, as long as it is representative, in a
balanced way, of members of national ecclesial bodies and Diocesan Delegates.82
77
Cf Ad Gentes 38; Cooperatio Missionalis 15 78
Cf Cooperatio Missionalis 7 79
Cooperatio Missionalis 7 80
Cf Cooperatio Missionalis 8 81
Cf Cooperatio Missionalis 8 82
Cf Cooperatio Missionalis 12
15 August 2005 21
Art 55 The National Council is responsible for:
(a) maintaining a close collaboration with the National Missionary Council established by
the Episcopal Conference and chaired by the President of the Episcopal Commission
for the Missions;83
(b) determining the topic and study the strategy for the annual missionary campaign and
the programme for the activities of the Societies, for both animation and organisation
of fund raising;
(c) receiving and examining the annual financial balance sheet submitted by the
competent office, including animation and administration expenses of the National and
Diocesan Offices, according to the budget.
Art 56 In each nation the PMS must observe the civil law in force, with regards to both the juridical
status to be incorporated in their regulations and in all their operations. The National Office,
through the Administration Council or other governing group (e.g. Board of Trustees), will
ensure that the status of the PMS as a ‘Non-profit Organisation’ or ‘Foundation’ or
‘Registered Charity’ is maintained.
Art 57 The National Council, in agreement with the Episcopal Conference and pending prior
information of the Superior Council of the PMS, should draft a statute or internal regulation
to organize their work and their specific activity, in harmony with the Statute of the PMS. It
should be examined and approved by the Supreme Committee (cf Art 45; 31 d).
Art 58 Given the episcopal character of the PMS and their ecclesial service, the National Council
must act so as to ensure that its activities are integrated within the overall diocesan and
national missionary pastoral plan, so as to bring about unity and harmonious developments.
While keeping their own identity, the PMS should not act on the margins of the pastoral life
of the dioceses and will avoid forming parallel structures. The PMS should follow the
general guidelines of the Episcopal Commission for the Missions.84
Assuming the presence
of National Missionary Council, the PMS are represented there, given their aim and the fact
that in the work of missionary animation “the leading role belongs to the Pontifical Mission
Societies”.85
Art 59 The President of the Episcopal Commission for the Missions or the person delegated by the
Episcopal Conference for this area promotes and champions the PMS. “The PMS’ role as
official instrument of the universal Church must be recognized and assured, coming as it
does by constitution in the countries and dioceses”.86
“It would be helpful if the President of
the Episcopal Commission were invited to the annual national PMS meetings. This would
enable him to follow their activities more closely at the stages of planning and review”.87
On
the other hand “the National Director should be informed of deliberations and missionary
initiatives of the Episcopal Commission. This would help him to carry out his duty in unity
of spirit and intent with the directives and chosen options of the Bishops and the local
Church. The National Director should be associated with the Episcopal Commission in the
most efficient manner possible”.88
“One concrete form is to appoint the National Director as
Secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Missions”.89
83
Cf Cooperatio Missionalis 12 84
Cf Cooperatio Missionalis 6 12 13 b c e 85
Redemptoris Missio 84; cf also Ad Gentes 38; Cooperatio Missionalis 12 86
Cooperatio Missionalis 13 c 87
Cooperatio Missionalis 13 f 88
Cooperatio Missionalis 13 g 89
Cooperatio Missionalis 14 b
15 August 2005 22
Art 60 In each diocese, preferably after consultation with the National Director, the Bishop
nominates a Diocesan Director of the PMS, ideally a single Director for all the four
Societies. It is desirable that the Director be nominated for a five-year mandate; this mandate
is renewable. It is also desirable that the Diocesan Director be at the same time the Episcopal
Delegate for the Missions.90
In case the Ordinary should nominate a different Episcopal
Delegate, the latter must offer maximum support to the Diocesan Director in carrying out his
task.91
The Diocesan Director, who should also be a member of the Diocesan Pastoral
Council, assisted by his co-workers, serves the Bishop to help him give a worldwide
missionary openness to the diocesan pastoral life.92
Chapter 4
Offerings of the faithful to the PMS
Art 61 The total offerings collected by the PMS in all the parishes and dioceses of every Rite
throughout the world, constitute a Fund of Solidarity to establish a programme of universal
assistance. Its aim is to provide economic assistance to Churches in the mission territories in
their commitment to evangelisation, to ecclesial and social development as well as to
education and material assistance. It is a sign of unity of faith, of love and justice, which
unites in the world all the members of the Church and the particular Churches in the
communion of the universal Church, because all the faithful of every Church in every part of
the world contribute towards it.
Art 62 The offerings of the faithful collected by the PMS in the dioceses must be transmitted
promptly, in their totality and with regularity to the National Office. These offerings
collected for the mission ad gentes on World Mission Day “in every diocese, parish and
institute of the Catholic world”93
or on other special occasions, cannot be used for other
purposes.94
Art 63 The distribution of the offerings collected by the PMS is the exclusive prerogative of the
Secretaries General. It is their task, in collaboration with the National Directors, to make the
subsidies granted during the year available to the person responsible for the projects
approved by the Superior Council. Only a percentage of the offerings collected can be
retained by the National Offices for animation and administration activity. Such a
percentage, as determined by the Superior Council, is also intended to make up for the
possible lack of sufficient funds for activities of the National Offices in the most
disadvantaged countries. In the annual financial reports, the expenses for missionary
animation must be recorded separately from those for administration costs.
Art 64 “Offerings given by the faithful for a specified purpose may be used only for that purpose”.95
All those who are allocated funds from the PMS, must use them solely and totally for the
specific project for which they have been destined and subsequently present a report to the
General Secretariats who allocated them.
90
Cf CIC can 791 n 2 91
Cf Cooperatio Missionalis 9 92
Cf CIC can 791 n 2 93
Cf Messagge by John Paul II for the World Mission Day 21st Oct 2001 75th
Anniversary of the PMSPF 94
Cf CIC can 1267 § 3; Cooperatio Missionalis 8 13 d 95
CIC can 1267 § 3; 791 n 4
15 August 2005 23
This STATUTE, duly updated according to the instructions of the Pope John Paul II on 26th June
1980, which, on the strength of the same, can be further updated every five years,
has been ratified and signed by
His Eminence Cardinal Crescenzio SEPE
PREFECT
Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples
Lyon, 6 May 2005