Vatican
City, 24 May 2013
(VIS) – Yesterday afternoon in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis
presided at the profession of faith with all the Italian episcopacy
gathered for their 65th general assembly. It was the first
time that the Holy Father met with all the representatives of the
Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), whom he greeted personally, one
by one.
“The
consequence of loving the Lord,” the Pope said to the bishops, “is
giving everything—absolutely everything, even up to our very
lives—for him. This is what must distinguish our pastoral ministry:
it is the litmus test that says how deeply we have embraced the gift
received in responding to Jesus' call and how connected we are to the
persons and the communities that have been entrusted to us. We are
not the expression of an organizational structure or need. Even with
the service of our authority we are called to be marked by the
presence of the Risen Lord, to build the community, therefore, in
fraternal charity. This shouldn't be overlooked, however: even the
greatest love, in fact, when it is not continuously nourished, grows
weak and dies.”
“Lack
of vigilance—we know—makes the shepherd lukewarm, makes him
distracted, forgetful, and even impatient. It seduces him with the
prospect of career, the lure of money, and compromises with the
spirit of the world. It makes him lazy, transforming him into a
functionary, a cleric more worried about self, about organization and
structures than the true good of the People of God. It runs the risk
then, as did the Apostle Peter, of denying the Lord, even though
formally presenting itself as and speaking in his name. It obscures
the holiness of the hierarchical Mother Church, making it less
fruitful.”
“Who
are we, brothers, before God? What are our trials?... As it did for
Peter, Jesus' insistent and heartfelt question can leave us sorrowful
and more aware of the weakness of our freedom, beset as it is by
thousands of internal and external constraints, which often arouse
confusion, frustration, even disbelief. These are certainly not the
feelings or the attitudes that the Lord means to awaken. Instead, the
Enemy, the Devil, takes advantage of them to isolate us in
bitterness, in complaint, and in discouragement. … Jesus, the Good
Shepherd, neither humiliates nor abandons us to remorse. In him, the
Father's tenderness speaks to us, comforting and restoring us. He
leads us from the disintegration of shame—because it is truly shame
that breaks us down—to the fabric of trust, restoring courage,
entrusting us again with responsibility, and delivering us to the
mission.”
"This is why," the Bishop of Rome concluded, "being Shepherds also means being ready to walk amidst the
flock: capable of hearing the silent story of those who suffer and of
sustaining the steps of those who are afraid of not making it;
careful to lift up, to reassure, and to inspire hope. Through sharing
with the poor our faith comes out strengthened. Let us, therefore,
set aside every type of arrogance in order to bow before those whom
the Lord has entrusted to our care. Among these, a special place, a
very special place, let us keep for our priests. Especially for them
our hearts, our hands, and our doors must stay open at all times.
They are the first faithful that we bishops have: our priests.”
Thank you Holy Father for being humble and may all our shepherds hear and follow your spiritual insights.
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