Pope Francis has urged new priests to live out their vocation with authenticity and spirit of service.
He gave this encouragement during today’s General Audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall. After concluding his catechesis, during his greetings to Italian pilgrims, Francis said, «I am delighted to welcome you new priests of the Legionaries of Christ with your families and you seminarians of Brescia.»
«I wish that you are able to live out your priesthood with authenticity, spirit of service, and the ability to mediate between the grace of God and the fragility of the human condition.»
«You must be mediators, never intermediaries,» he said.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, ordained 36 legionaries of Christ to the priesthood in the Basilica of St. John Lateran last Saturday. More than 3,000 people including family members, friends, fellow seminarians and superiors attended. Fr Eduardo Robles-Gil LC, General Director of the Legionaries of Christ and the Regnum Christi Movement, presented the candidates for priestly ordination.
Just as Pope Francis did for the other faithful present, he gave a cordial welcome to all Italians present, during this «joyous preparation for Christmas.»
Also remembering that today marks the feast day of St. John of the Cross, a ‘zealous pastor’ and ‘mystic Doctor of the Church,’ Francis gave some special words to the young, the sick and newlyweds.
To the young people, he said, «ponder the greatness of Jesus, who was born and died for us»; to the sick, «meekly accept your cross in union with Christ for the conversion of sinners»; and to the newlyweds, «dedicate more space to prayer, especially in this season of Advent, so that your married life becomes a path of Christian perfection.»
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Cardinal Pietro Parolin Ordains 36 Legionaries of Christ: https://zenit.org/articles/cardinal-pietro-parolin-ordains-36-legionaries-of-christ/
