Pope Francis released his message on Wednesday for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. In his message, the Holy Father underlines how “this day is a precious opportunity for recalling with wonder that the Lord’s call is grace and a complete gift.” The Vatican released the Holy Father’s message for the 60th Anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. This year’s theme is “Vocation: grace and mission.” World Day of Prayer will be observed on April 30th, “Good Shepherd Sunday.” Speakers at the conference included Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy and Rev. Eamonn McLaughlin, official of the same dicastery. In his message, the Holy Father, explains how no vocation exists without mission to the least and calls on the faithful to be open to fulfilling the Lord’s instructions and not be challenged by existential peripheries. The common mission of all of us Christians, Pope Francis continues, “is to witness with joy, in every situation, with attitudes and words, what we experience by being with Jesus and in his community which is the Church.” The Holy Father also touches on the importance of being merciful and creating a lifestyle which is welcoming and compassionate.