Liam Neeson Lends His Voice to Missio, New App From Catholic Church

The Pontifical Mission Societies, has launched a video for the newest app, Missio, from Pope Francis and the Catholic Church featuring voiceover from popular actor, Liam Neeson. Pope Francis called for urgent action: on refugees, on the poor, for families. He encouraged us to "see their faces, listen to their stories, and respond as we can." Missio enables you to take action right from your phone.

Missio has been termed "open-source philanthropy," connecting people of all beliefs with a global network of change-makers who are on the ground working with communities in need.

This video shines a light on the Missio app, its technology, the disruptive nature of open source charitable giving, and how it will change the conversation in the world of philanthropy and the Church itself.

"Missio's innovative 'open source philanthropy' turns charity into change-making," said Neeson.

First launched by Pope Francis in May 2013 as a simple yet accessible way to share news, Missio has been re-released and is now an open-source digital platform, which offers a direct, reliable, and communal way to be a change-maker in some of the world's poorest places.

"Missio brings transparency to charitable giving in a way that's never been done before. It provides donators with confidence that their funds are going to the project and people they've selected," said Father Andrew Small OMI, the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, the Vatican's sanctioned organization for overseas missionary work and the driving force behind the app. "People want to be change-makers and with Missio they can join forces with Francis, the Change-Maker in Chief."

Within the app, users can explore humanitarian projects happening right now in Africa, Asia, and Latin America focused on an array of concerns including poverty, homelessness, sustainable agriculture, addiction, education, health care, clean water, HIV/AIDS, and many other causes. Users can support specific projects of interest to them in a variety of ways. In addition to an instant donation function, Missio allows users to send goodwill messages to project leaders, light digital candles, share information on social media, and contact elected officials to raise awareness.

Users can also connect with a larger community with the same concerns by organizing events and forming groups with other users based on geography or interests. Missio helps project leaders communicate directly with supporters, allowing an unfiltered exchange of information and ideas between the people on the ground and the people at home who are looking to do good.

"'We share a 'common home' in our world, as Pope Francis said, and we share a desire all want to make change happen and Missio is the tool to do it," said Father Small.

Missio can be downloaded from the Apple App Store, Google Play or accessed online at http://missio.org/. You can also follow the social conversation with #Missio and #MissioApp.

The Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States are the Catholic Church's official support organization for overseas missions since 1822, providing for a global network of people who are making a difference for communities in need around the globe. These change- MAKERS offer help to the most vulnerable communities of our world. They provide essential education and health care, social outreach and advocacy, and pastoral service. They offer spiritual comfort. They make a difference for the poor and forgotten.

Each year, day-in and day-out, the work made possible by the Pontifical Mission Societies includes:

• 75,000 elementary and secondary schools, educating more than 33 million young people
• 11,000 hospitals and dispensaries
• 5,400 orphanages
• 3,100 homes for the elderly, chronically ill, or disabled

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