150(th) ANNIVERSARY OF PONTIFICAL FRENCH SEMINARY IN ROME

VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2003 (VIS) - During these days, the Pontifical French Seminary in Rome is celebrating the 150(th) anniversary of its founding. On this occasion, the Holy Father received this morning in audience a group of professors and students from the institution to whom he said, 'The formation of future priests is a special duty in the Church.'

'It is the primary responsibility of the bishops,' he continued, 'to whom the call to holy orders pertains, after having discerned with the priests charged with this task.'

'Take advantage of this time to let yourselves be directed by the Lord, with great docility to the Spirit and profound obedience to the Church and Her shepherds,' he said. He concluded by saying, 'your integral formation is a human, spiritual, moral and intellectual maturation ' in the light of Christ and in contact with pastoral realities, accepting with trust the help of teachers in the heart of the community.'

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