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"Every vocation is animated by hope": Pope Francis in Message for World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Catholics attend the Mass and episcopal ordination of two new bishops in St. Peter's Basilica Oct. 17, 2021.

Writing from Gemelli Hospital, Pope Francis emphasized the role of hope in vocational discernment in his message for the 62nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations released by the Vatican on Wednesday.

“Vocation is a precious gift that God sows in hearts, a call to step outside oneself to undertake a journey of love and service,” wrote Francis in his address on March 19.

The hospitalized pope described how vocations develop through “trust in providence” and said Christian hope goes beyond optimism to become “a certainty rooted in faith in God, who works in the history of every person.”

Francis called on Church leaders to support younger generations in their vocational journeys while encouraging young people to work with “the Holy Spirit” in discovering their life’s purpose.

The pope pointed to young saints as examples of those who found “complete happiness in relationship with the living Christ” through their vocations.

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On the solemnity of St. Joseph, Francis explained that vocational paths develop through “daily fidelity to the Gospel, prayer, discernment, and service” and concluded by urging Church communities to foster vocational awareness across various aspects of life.

“The Church is alive and fruitful when it generates new vocations,” he added.

“Our world looks, often unknowingly, for witnesses of hope who proclaim with their lives that following Christ is a source of true joy. Let us never tire, then, of asking the Lord for new laborers for his harvest, certain that with great love he continues to call them.”

In closing, the pope entrusted efforts of the young faithful “to follow the Lord to the intercession of Mary, mother of the Church and mother of vocations. Keep walking as pilgrims of hope on the path of the Gospel! I accompany you with my blessing and I ask you, please, to pray for me.”

AC Wimmer is the News Editor for Europe and Asia at EWTN News. The multilingual Australian, raised in Bavaria and South Africa, served as editor-in-chief of several news media outlets. A graduate in Philosophy and Chinese Studies from the University of Melbourne, the veteran journalist is a former Honorary Research Fellow in Communications at his alma mater and served on the Board of Caritas in Munich.