The Missionary Saint of Rome

“Sanctus Vincentius Pallotti, Confessor, in principalem Patronum Pontificiae Unionis Missionariae Cleri eligitur.” 

In 1963, Pope St. John XXIII declared St. Vincent Pallotti, the Confessor, the principle Patron of the Pontifical Missionary Union

“St. Vincent Pallotti, who concentrates the most skillful cares on the missionary matter - a shining example of priests following the apostolic ardor - is chief patron of the aforesaid group.”

Pallotti’s impetus and motto - the love of Christ impels us - was inseparable from the Gospel’s missionary mandate. So assiduous his aims towards the foreign missions, and his exercises to the reanimation of faith in Rome, St. John XXIII decreed his celestial patronage on April 6th - three months after his canonization of January 20th.

“Seek to do good without creating the least obstacle!”
— St. Vincent Pallotti

Pallotti himself, 1795-1850, was a mystic in action, who constantly took the Gospel to the streets. His pastoral approach was dynamic, invigorating, and prophetic; where the holiness of all the baptized - Lay & Religious - were called to build up the Church.

His precepts of “removing every wall of separation between the diocesan and regular clergy”, and the applicability of the Catholic apostolate “to persons of every class”, were intensely forerunning in his lifetime, and modeled the enlightenment he received to establish an institution of a universal apostolate and charity.

Download St. Pope John XXIII’s Proclamation