By virtue of their Baptism, every Catholic is called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ – a mission which cannot be separated from the Catholic Church.

It is truly Baptism that makes us missionaries. A baptized person who does not feel the need to proclaim the Gospel, to announce Jesus, is not a good Christian.

The first necessary element of all authentic missionary discipleship is the changeless center, which is Jesus. This is because proclaiming the Gospel cannot be separated from Christ or from the Church.

Announcing the Gospel is not an initiative of individual believers, groups or even large groups, but it is the Church’s mission inseparably united with her Lord. No Christian proclaims the Gospel on his own, but only sent by the Church who received the mandate from Christ himself.

Jesus’ message to his disciples concerns not just priests, but every baptized person, who is called to witness, in the various environments of life, the Gospel of Christ.

Like the disciples were warned, the message may not be welcomed, but this aligns with what Jesus himself experienced “was rejected and crucified.”

Only if we are united with him, dead and risen, can we find the courage of evangelization.

The center of the mission must always be Christ. Bring the message of the Gospel to the world in a humble and radiant exultation, beyond any rejection, misunderstanding or tribulation.

Pope Francis