THE POPE'S “OPEN-HEARTED” CONVERSATION WITH THE PONTIFICAL COLLEGES

Vatican City, 13 May 2014 (VIS) – Yesterday afternoon in the Paul VI Hall the Holy Father received in audience the rectors and alumni of the Pontifical colleges and residences of Rome. Some of the priests and seminarians, who are from all over the world and study in Rome, posed questions to the Pope who answered spontaneously, without a prepared text, with an “open heart”. A dialogue made up of more than ten questions, addressing themes such as the priesthood, temptations, and challenges of consecrated life. Before he began, the Pope addressed a special message of closeness to the Christians of Ukraine and the Middle East, emphasising that the Church still suffers greatly today, in many parts of the world, as a result of persecution.

The Holy Father spoke about the danger of “academicism”, or rather the risk that seminarians return to their dioceses simply as graduates rather than fathers, as priests, in response to a question from an American seminarian. He mentioned the four pillars of the formation of priests, which must be cultivated so as not to fall into the trap of “academicism”: spiritual, academic, communitarian and apostolic formation. A seminarian from China asked about community life, to which Pope Francis responded that it is impossible to prepare oneself for the priesthood alone; it must take place within a community, taking great care to overcome the capital sins that may arise in relations with one's brethren. “Never, ever speak about others behind their backs!” he said. “If I have something against someone, or I do not agree with them, I tell them directly. … Gossip is the scourge of a community; one must always speak with someone face to face, and pray for those with whom there are problems”.

Similarly, he advised them to be patient, to study hard and to make the most of all the opportunities offered them during their stay outside their countries of origin. He also urged them to seek calm through prayer and, in turbulent moments, to take refuge under the mantle of the Mother of God. “Because a good relationship with the Mother helps us to stay in good relations with the Church”. The Pope added that there is only one path to leadership in priestly life: service. “Service means doing the will of others, over and over again. Reject the path of money or vanity and be a servant, armed with humility”.

A seminarian from Cameroon asked how the various dimensions of the ministry can co-exist in a balanced way, to which Pope Francis responded that it was necessary to be vigilant, careful and organised. “The ideal is to end the day tired. … But with a good tiredness, not a reckless tiredness, that is harmful to your health over time”. In response to another question on how one should be a priest in view of the new evangelisation, the Pope commented that it is important to reach out of oneself, and to be close to the people. “A cordial closeness, a closeness of love, but also a physical closeness”. He added that the closeness of a pastor to his people can be measured by the paying attention to his homilies. He admitted that “in general, our homilies are not good – they are conferences or lessons”, and he emphasised that boring homilies on abstract subjects resemble school. “We are behind in this respect”, he admitted; “it is one of the points of conversion that the Church needs today: to improve homilies so that people can understand better”.

Finally, the Pope responded to a Polish seminarian who asked his advice on how to remain willing and happy in service to the people of God. Francis commented on the great importance of meeting with people, with the bishop and with other priests, but without fear. “Perhaps you have some inner reservations, but you must never be afraid”, and he added that “one of the treasures that you must cultivate is priestly friendship”. Before taking his leave, the Pope encouraged the to be “friends to all those whom the Lord places before you”. “Priestly friendship is the strength of perseverance, apostolic joy, courage, and also humour”.

TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL MARCO CE

Vatican City, 13 May 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has sent a telegram of condolence to Bishop Francesco Moraglia, patriarch of Venice, for the death yesterday of Cardinal Marco Ce, patriarch emeritus of Venice, Italy, at the age of 88.

The Pope expresses his closeness and prayer “for the entire diocesan community, the family of the deceased cardinal, and all those who knew him”, and recalls “his tireless work in the dioceses of Crema and Bologna, and in Catholic Action”. He remarks that this “gentle and wise pastor of the Church in Venice” offered “generous service to the Word of God through the preaching of days of spirituality for the clergy and for the young” and his “great efforts to bring about an authentic liturgical spirit”.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City, 13 May 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed Fr. Petros Stefanou as bishop of Syros, Milos, Santorini, (area 633, population 31,600, Catholics 6,785, priests 11, religious 14) Greece, and apostolic administrator “ad nutum Sanctae Sedis” of Candia, Crete. The bishop-elect was born in Ermupoli, Greece in 1963 and was ordained a priest in 1995. He holds a degree in economics from the University of Athens and a bachelor's degree in philosophy and theology from the theological faculty of northern Italy. He currently serves as priest of the parishes of St. Peter Apostle in Posidonia and St. Joseph at Vissas in the island of Syros, diocesan bursar, member of the economic council, head of the St. Paul pastoral centre and the catechetic centre, and secretary for the Commission for the Catechesis in Syros. He succeeds Bishop Franghiskos Papamanolis, O.F.M. Cap., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocesis and from the office of apostolic administrator “ad nutum Sanctae Sedis” of Candia, Crete, upon reaching the age limit, was accepted by the Holy Father.

NEVER TIRE OF BEING MERCIFUL, THE POPE TELLS NEW PRIESTS

Vatican City, 11 May 2014 (VIS) – Today is World Day of Prayer for Vocations, and Pope Francis presided this morning at a Mass for the ordination of thirteen new priests: six Italians, four from various countries in Latin America, one from Pakistan, one from South Korea and one from Vietnam.

The Bishop of Rome, who added various personal reflections to the Rite of Ordination, urged the new priests never to tire of being merciful, adding however that they are not the owners of the doctrine since this belongs to Christ.

“You, who are about to enter the priesthood, must consider that in exercising the ministry of the sacred doctrine, you will be participants in the mission of Christ, the sole master. Make use of all this, the Word that you yourselves have received with joy, from your mothers, from your catechists. Read and meditate on the word of the Lord assiduously, to believe what your have read, to teach what you have learnt in faith, to live what you have taught. May your doctrine, therefore, be nourishment to the people of God; yet it is not your doctrine, you are not its masters! It is the doctrine of the Lord, and you must be faithful to the doctrine of the Lord … since, by word and example you edify the house of God, the Church”.

“By Baptism you will add new faithful to the people of God; with the sacrament of penance you will forgive sins in the name of Christ and the Church. And here I want to pause to ask you, for the love of Jesus Christ, never tire of being merciful! Please! Have that capacity for forgiveness that the Lord had; He Who came not to condemn but to forgive! Have mercy, great mercy! And if you are worried about being too forgiving, think of that holy priest of whom I have spoken, who stopped before the tabernacle and said, 'Lord, forgive me if I have forgiven too much. But you have set me a bad example!'. And I say to you, truly, it pains me when I encounter people who no longer go to confession because they have been reproached and scolded. They felt as though the doors of the Churches had been closed in their faces. Please, do not do this: mercy, mercy! The good shepherd enters by the door, and the wounds of the Lord are the door of mercy: if you do not enter into your ministry through the Lord's wounds, you will not be good priests”.

The Pope concluded by quoting St. Augustine, when he spoke of the pastors “who sought their own pleasure, who used the Lord's sheep to feed and clothe themselves, to assume the majesty of a ministry that may or may not have been God's. Finally, participating in Christ's mission, as a leader and pastor, in filial communion with your bishop, commit yourselves to uniting the faithful in a single family, to lead them to God the Father through Christ in the Holy Spirit. Keep before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd, who came not to be served but to serve, and to seek and save what was lost”.

REGINA COELI: TROUBLE YOUR PASTORS FOR THE MILK OF DOCTRINE

Vatican City, 11 May 2014 (VIS) – At midday today, after celebrating Mass for the ordination of thirteen new priests, the Holy Father appeared at the window of his study to pray the Regina Coeli with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square. He commented on today's Gospel reading, the parable of the Good Shepherd, which exemplifies “the type of relationship Jesus had with His disciples: a relationship based on tenderness, love, mutual understanding and the promise of an incomparable gift. 'I came that they may have life and have it abundantly'”.

This bond, Francis said, “is the model for relations between Christians and for all human relations”, and although “today, too, many propose themselves as pastors for our existence … only the Risen Christ is the true Pastor, able to give us life in abundance”.

He invited all present to pray for the pastors of the Church, for all the bishops, “including the bishop of Rome, and for all priests. For all of them! In particular, let us pray for the new priests of the diocese of Rome, whom I ordained this morning in St. Peter's Basilica. A greeting to these thirteen priests! May the Lord help us, as pastors, always to be faithful to the Master and to be wise and enlightened guides for the people of God entrusted to us. I ask you too to help us: help us to be good pastors”.

In this regard, the Pope explained that once he read a text by St. Caesarius of Arles, a priest of the first centuries of the Church, who explained how the people of God can help their pastor, with the following example: “When a calf is hungry he goes to the cow, his mother, for milk. However, the cow does not give it to him immediately; it almost seems as if she keeps it for herself. And so what does the calf do? He nudges the cow's udder with his nose, and in this way the milk comes. It is a beautiful image. And this, says the saint, is what you must do with your pastors: always knock at their door, at their heart, so that they give you the milk of doctrine, the milk of grace and the milk of guidance. I ask you, please, to trouble your pastors, to disturb them, all of us, so that we can give you the milk of grace, doctrine and guidance. Bother us! Think of that beautiful image of the calf who nudges his mother to feed him”.

“This Sunday we celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Vocations”, he continued. “This year's message tells us that 'every vocation always requires an exodus from oneself in order to centre one’s life on Christ and on His Gospel'. Therefore, the call to follow Jesus is exciting and challenging at the same time. ...Let us pray that, even in these times, many young people may hear the voice of the Lord, that always risks being suffocated by so many other voices”.

Following the Marian prayer, the bishop of Rome greeted, amongst others, the neocatechumenal communities that “on these Sundays during Easter time proclaim the Risen Jesus in one hundred squares in Rome and in many cities throughout the world. May the Lord give you the joy of the Gospel! And carry on your good work!”. He also offered a special blessing to the children who in these months have received or will receive their First Communion, and finally he encouraged all present to dedicate “a good memory or a prayer to all mothers. … Entrusting them to the mother of Jesus, we pray to the Virgin for our mothers and for all mothers. … A warm greeting to all mothers”.