The provided text is an extensive excerpt from Pope John Paul II’s encyclical, Redemptoris Missio, which affirms the permanent validity and urgency of the Catholic Church’s missionary mandate to proclaim Christ to all peoples. The document emphasizes that the mission, or missio ad gentes, remains an essential and primary task of the Church, despite advancements in communications and the growth of Christian communities in various regions. It articulates that Jesus Christ is the sole Redeemer and mediator of salvation, and thus the Church, as the universal sacrament of salvation, is indissolubly linked to both Christ and the Kingdom of God. Furthermore, the encyclical discusses the practical paths of mission, including witness, the initial proclamation of Christ, fostering conversion and Baptism, establishing local churches, promoting inculturation and inter-religious dialogue, and ensuring the cooperation of the entire People of God, including the laity and religious institutes, all while being guided by the Holy Spirit.
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