Monday, September 16, 2013

FRANCIS: LET THERE BE MORE PRIESTS LIKE FATHER BROCHERO


Vatican City, 15 September 2013 (VIS) – After today's Angelus the Pope spoke about the beatification in Argentina yesterday of “the gaucho priest” Fr. Brochero, who, “driven by the love of Christ, dedicated himself entirely to his flock, leading them all into God's Kingdom, with immense mercy and zeal. … He stayed alongside the people and encouraged many to perform the spiritual exercises. He travelled kilometres and kilometres through the mountains on his mule, named 'Uglyface' on account of her unfortunate appearance. He even ventured out in the rain, and was courageous. At the end of his life, Blessed Fr. Brochero was blind and a leper, but full of joy, the joy of the Good Shepherd, the joy of the merciful Shepherd”.

I wish to share in the joy of the Church in Argentina for the beatification of this exemplary pastor who, atop his mule, indefatigably travelled the arid paths of his parish, going from door to door seeking the parishioners entrusted to him to lead them to God. We ask Christ, by the intercession of the new Blessed, that there be a proliferation of priests who, like Fr. Brochero, dedicate their lives to evangelisation, on both knees before the Cross, and bearing witness everywhere to God's love and mercy.

Finally, the Pope recalled that today sees the conclusion in Turin of the Italian Catholics' Social Week, on the theme of “Family, hope and future for Italian society” and greeted all the participants, commending them for the commitment of the Church in Italy with and for families, which constitutes “a powerful stimulus for the institutions and for the country as a whole”.

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