On 19th of October 2014 PopePaul VI was beatified and called “Blessed”. It is really a coincidence that the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops with the topic: The Pastoral challenges of the Family in the context of Evangelization, ended on the same day. Bl. Paul VI, named Giovanni Battista Montini, led the Church from 21 June 1963 until his death in 1978. The pontifical name Paul refers to St. Paul, “the one who was unsaddled by Christ on the road for Damask and turned into the apostle of the people.
St.John XXIII in his inaugural speech of the Second Vatican Council, guided the participants, to form the Church to find new ways to convey the ancient essence of the Christian message to the modern man. Bl. Paul VI, being his successor, completed the Vatican Council II and he guided the church to be reformed based on the priorities that evolved from it. His 15 years as a Pope has been a significant time in the history of the Catholic Church, especially in realm of mission and evangelisation. He is the first Pope to visit 6 continents at that time, with the mission of ‘giving Christ’.
During his beatification Mass, Pope Francis wore a simple chasuble given to Paul VI for his 80th birthday and he used Bl. Paul VI’s simple silver staff. It denotes that mission is always with simplicity and witness. Pope Francis noted that Bl. Paul VI “was a staunch supporter of the mission adgentes; it is the witness above all of the Apostolic Exhortation Evangeliinuntiandi, with which he intended to reawaken the enthusiasm and the commitment of the Church for the mission.
And this Exhortation is “still relevant”, it has great relevance. It is significant to consider this aspect of the Pontificate of Paul VI, especially today, which is celebrated as World Missionary Day”. So today, the Bl. Paul VI and the Church gives a challenge to each one of us: wherever you are, whatever and whoever you are, ‘can you be an evangeliser in this world for Christ?’
