In the Catholic Church the last three decades have seen the progressive widening of the notion of mission. Looking for a theological foundation for mission, the Council Fathers set it in a Trinitarian and Christological context thus:

The Church on earth is by its nature missionary since, according to the plan of the Father, it had its origin in the mission of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This plan flows from “fountain-like love”, the love of God the Father.

Mission is therefore divine and Trinitarian in origin. The Son and the Spirit are sent into the world to witness to, to make present and effective the salvific love of the Father. Mission is also cosmic, that is, it embraces the whole universe. Nothing-no one- is outside the loving concern of the Father. It is not limited to particular places – the missions’ or to particular people – ‘converts’. An important reason for the widening of the understanding of mission was the growing awareness of the widespread de-Christianization of the so-called Christian countries, so that they too were in need of a new proclamation of the Gospel.

Having examined the origin, meaning and use of the term before Vatican II, we now explore its use in two documents of the Council, two Papal encyclicals and one document issued jointly by two offices of the Roman Curia.