I was pretty baffled when I saw the statement too, although obviously it's quite a nice sentiment. As I mentioned to somebody yesterday, though, all the usual more conservative forces in the Church are having absolute kittens about the statement.

The anti-Francis faction in the U.S., which is in a majority in the bishops conference, are outraged. The bishops themselves are not speaking out publicly, but their proxies sure are – and they are apoplectic.

Leaders of the Catholic Church are well aware that missionaries and evangelists are held in disdain by many people, regarded as destroyers of culture and worse.

How the liberalizing global Church is going to wrap its mind around that remains to be seen, but this statement is clearly part of what will be a long process.