This Is How Pope Leo XIV Reaffirms the Role of the Seminary in the Process of Priestly Formation and Urges That It Not Be Underestimated

(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 09.03.2026).- On Thursday morning, September 3, the Holy Father received, in a private audience, seminarians and formators from the «Pius XI» Pontifical Regional Seminary of Apulia in Molfetta and the Diocesan Seminary of Aversa, as well as some families accompanying them. The audience took place in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace. Below is the English translation of the Pope’s words, prepared by ZENIT.

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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you.

Dear Brother Bishops, Priests, Seminarians, and Family Members,

First of all, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your presence here today.

You come from two different paths and two different lands, yet this year your houses are celebrating an anniversary together. In Molfetta, you are commemorating the centenary of your new premises, commissioned by Pope Pius XI, whose name the Seminary bears, while in Aversa, you are celebrating the tercentenary of the opening of your current building.

As I meet you, I feel compelled to highlight one dimension of your formation journey: the relationship with the One who has called us. Study, discipline, and the stages of the journey are important elements to keep firmly in mind, but they are only valid if grounded in a relationship with God.

In his Gospel, Saint Mark recounts that Jesus «went up the mountain and called to Him those whom He wanted, and they came to Him. He appointed Twelve, whom He named apostles, to be with Him and to be sent out to preach» (Mark 3:13-14).

Everything is contained in these few words. By reflecting on this brief passage, we can glimpse a remarkable synthesis of the experience essential to every calling, and to all who wish to deepen their understanding of the truth of their own vocation. There is the mountain to climb, a place to encounter Christ and, above all, to be with Him. The heart of the Seminary experience lies entirely here: learning to be with the Master, the Lord Jesus.

The Evangelist recounts that the Lord «called those whom He desired,» immediately highlighting the freedom of God from which every vocation springs. There is no competition, no ranking, nor is it written that He chose the best: He chose those He wanted. In a world so intent on celebrating self-fulfillment, it is truly important to reaffirm that none of you, and none of us, is here because we earned it, but solely through a free choice by God the Father; this is a sign and pledge of a gratuitous love that always anticipates us and never disappoints.

As I look at each of you, I behold the wonder of God, who dearest seminarians, your very presence in the Seminary is a sign of hope for the whole Church. Not of vague optimism, but of the certainty that the Lord always calls, in every era of history and in every place, never tires of whispering to the hearts of young people the beauty of giving one’s life for Him and for the Church.

Every vocation is born of an intimate dialogue with God, cultivated in silence and prayer, which often takes place «despite the sometimes deafening noise of the world» (Leo XIV, Message for the 63rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, March 16, 2026). That is where everything is decided, and for that dialogue to take place, it is necessary to learn to be with Him.

You have many examples, but I believe that for all of you, the Venerable Bishop Don Tonino Bello demonstrates with particular clarity what it means to be a priest and a Bishop: not merely in words, but in every gesture and decision, and by bearing witness to the very end.

That is why the time spent in the Seminary remains necessary, today no less than in the past. In a world that is in a rush and views any prolonged pause with suspicion, one might think of it as a luxury or an outdated institution, but that is not the case. Precisely because our times are fast-paced and noisy, there is a need for a place, and a season of life, where one learns simply to “be”, to discern, and to allow oneself to be formed without taking shortcuts. The seminary is not a postponement of the mission, but a prerequisite for it. Let it not be underestimated.

Indeed, after hearing the Lord’s voice, one must reach Him and ascend the mountain, a journey that can at times be exhausting, as the climb is made on foot, sometimes breathless, without yet seeing the summit.

Yet, the weariness of the spiritual life is sustained by the beauty of fraternity and communion in the mission. On the mountain, Jesus does not call just one man; He calls twelve individuals with widely differing personalities, some of whom might seem unlikely choices in our eyes. The Lord gathers them and keeps them together so they may learn that the Church is lived out in community: it belongs to none of us, and we are all called to love and serve it as one body. You who come from Molfetta experience this in a special way, for at the Regional Seminary, the communion among the Churches of Puglia is not merely an ideal, but a concrete friendship born during these years, one that will accompany you throughout your lives as priests.

For just as «no shepherd exists alone» (Leo XIV, Apostolic Letter Una Fedeltà che Genera Futuro, December 8, 2025, 15), neither can a seminarian conceive of a private path with the Lord; he must always sense and experience the beauty of ecclesial mediation. The seminary, then, rather than merely being a place to acquire information, «should be a school of the affections» (Ibid., 12). And to you, dear formators, I ask that you be the first teachers of that care and fraternity which manifest themselves in authentic personal and communal relationships, grounded in truth and charity. One cannot improvise as a formator; yours is a most delicate ministry for which one must prepare with knowledge, patience, and love.

There remains, then, the final step: the descent from the mountain, for the mountain is not a refuge. Jesus does not lead the Twelve to the heights to keep them safe, but so that, having experienced God, they may be sent forth to share this newness of life with the world.

You will be called, then, to come down from the mountain and be sent to the people of your lands: to those families striving to move forward, to the young people packing their bags at twenty to find work, to the elderly living alone, to the marginalized, and to those who have lost a sense of purpose in life. The priest is sent to everyone because he proclaims to all the beauty of faith in Jesus Christ, the good news of our salvation. It is the salvation given to us through Mary. Entrust yourselves to Her, the first to do what is asked of you today. Ask Mary for the grace to learn to say «yes» to the Lord Jesus each day.

Dearest seminarians, before we part, I wish to thank you. Thank you, in the name of the Church, for the «yes» you have spoken and continue to speak each day; in today’s world, this is neither easy nor a given, and the Church knows this well.

I also wish to offer a special word of thanks to the families present here. A vocation never arises in a vacuum; it often requires a home, parents who pray and who know how to let go. To you, dear families, goes my gratitude and that of the entire Church.

I greet and bless the deacons who will be ordained priests in a few days; I hold you close to my heart, praying that you may always be faithful, joyful, and courageous disciples of the Lord. We shall all pray for you.

I bless you all from my heart, along with your Bishops, your formators, your families, and the communities that await you and are already praying for you. Thank you.