Vatican
City, 21 December 2013 (VIS) – During the final days of Advent, the
Holy Father traditionally meets with the cardinals, superiors and
officials of the Roman Curia to exchange Christmas greetings. Today
this took place for the first time during the pontificate of Pope
Francis, Bishop of Rome, who warmly thanked all his collaborators and
in particular Archbishop Pietro Parolin, who “recently began his
service as Secretary of State, and who needs our prayers”.
The
Holy Father thanked the Curia for “the work which you do each day:
for the care, diligence and creativity which you display; and for
your effort – I know it is not always easy – to work together in
the office, both to listen to and challenge one another, and to bring
out the best in all your different personalities and gifts, in a
spirit of mutual respect”. He also expressed his particular
gratitude those now concluding their service and approaching
retirement.
“As
priests and bishops, we know full well that we never really retire,
but we do leave the office, and rightly so, not least to devote
ourselves a little more to prayer and the care of souls, starting
with our own!” he remarked. So a very special and heartfelt 'thank
you' goes to those of you who have worked here for so many years with
immense dedication, hidden from the eyes of the world. ... I have
such high regard for these 'Monsignori' who are cut from the same
mould as the curiales of olden times, exemplary persons … We need
them today, too! People who work with competence, precision and
self-sacrifice in the fulfilment of their daily duties. Here I would
like to mention some of them by name, as a way of expressing my
esteem and my gratitude, but we know that, in any list, the first
names people notice are the ones that are missing! Besides, I would
also risk overlooking someone and thus committing an injustice and a
lack of charity. But I want to say to these brothers of ours that
they offer a very important witness in the Church’s journey through
history”.
Based
on this model and this witness, Pope Francis went on to speak about
the two crucial qualities that should characterise the curial
official, and, in particular, curial superiors: professionalism and
service.
Professionalism,
a “basic requisite for working in the Curia”, means “competence,
study, keeping abreast of things. … Naturally, professionalism is
something which develops, and is in part acquired; but I think that,
precisely for it to develop and to be acquired, there has to be a
good foundation from the outset”.
The
second hallmark is “service to the Pope and to the bishops, to the
universal Church and to the particular Churches. In the Roman Curia,
one learns – in a real way, 'one breathes in' – this twofold
aspect of the Church, this interplay of the universal and the
particular. I think that this is one of the finest experiences of
those who live and work in Rome: 'to sense' the Church in this way.
When professionalism is lacking, there is a slow drift downwards
towards mediocrity. Dossiers become full of trite and lifeless
information, and incapable of opening up lofty perspectives. Then
too, when the attitude is no longer one of service to the particular
Churches and their bishops, the structure of the Curia turns into a
ponderous, bureaucratic customs house, constantly inspecting and
questioning, hindering the working of the Holy Spirit and the growth
of God’s people”.
To
these two qualities, the Pope added a third: “holiness of life”,
which is “in the hierarchy of values, … the most important” as
it provides the basis for “the quality of our work, our service.
And I would like to say that here, in the Curia, there have been and
there are holy men. I have said this publicly on more than one
occasion, to give thanks to God. Holiness means a life immersed in
the Spirit, a heart open to God, constant prayer, deep humility and
fraternal charity in our relationships with our fellow workers. It
also means apostleship, discreet and faithful pastoral service,
zealously carried out in direct contact with God’s people. For
priests, this is indispensable”.
“Holiness,
in the Curia, also means conscientious objection to gossip! We
rightfully insist on the importance of conscientious objection, but
perhaps we too need to exercise it as a means of defending ourselves
from an unwritten law of our surroundings, which unfortunately is
that of gossip. So let us all be conscientious objectors; and mind
you, I am not simply preaching! Gossip is harmful to people, our work
and our surroundings.
“Dear
brothers and sisters”, concluded Pope Francis, “let us feel close
to one another on this final stretch of the road to Bethlehem. We
would do well to meditate on Saint Joseph, who was so silent yet so
necessary at the side of Our Lady. Let us think about him and his
loving concern for his Spouse and for the Baby Jesus. This can tell
us a lot about our own service to the Church! So let us experience
this Christmas in spiritual closeness to Saint Joseph. I thank you
most heartily for your work and especially for your prayers. Truly I
feel 'borne aloft' by your prayers and I ask you to continue to
support me in this way. I too remember you before the Lord, and I
impart my blessing as I offer my best wishes for a Christmas filled
with light and peace for each of you and for all your dear ones”.
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