Priests are called each day to leave the doors of the Church open to a “suffering humanity” in need and not “be an obstacle to those who wish to enter,” Pope Leo XIV said yesterday. Source: OSV News.
On Good Shepherd Sunday, Pope Leo ordained 10 men to the priesthood at a Mass in St Peter’s Basilica.
He told them the vocation to priestly ministry is a call to reflect Christ’s “patience and tenderness” and “to keep the threshold open and direct others to it, without using too many words.
“Today more than ever, especially when statistics seem to indicate a divide between people and the Church, keep the door open! Let people in, and be prepared to go out. This is another secret for your life: You are a channel, not a filter,” he said.
Of the 10 priests ordained by Pope Leo, eight were ordained for the Diocese of Rome, one for the Diocese of Miao, India and another for the Idente Missionaries.
According to Vatican News, an estimated 5,000 people, comprised of family and friends of the ordinands, were present at the ordination Mass which coincided with the celebration of the World Day of Vocations.
After greeting those present at the Mass, Pope Leo began his homily by exclaiming, “This Sunday is full of life.”
He said that “although death surrounds us,” Jesus’ promise in the Gospel reading — that he came “so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” — was fulfilled.
“We see great generosity and enthusiasm in the willingness of these young men whom the Church calls today to be ordained as priests,” the Pope said.
Reflecting on the priestly vocation, the Pope reminded the candidates that the deeper their bond with Christ, “the more radical your belonging to all of humanity,” thus binding their hearts to “an indissoluble love.”
Like the love of spouses, he explains, “the love that inspires celibacy for the Kingdom of God must also be guarded and constantly renewed, for every true affection matures and becomes fruitful over time.”
“You are called to a specific, delicate and difficult way of loving and, even more so, of allowing yourselves to be loved in freedom,” the Pope said. “This will make you not only good priests, but also honest, helpful citizens, builders of peace and social friendship.”
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Pope Leo to new priests: Keep Church door open, don’t be an obstacle to seekers (By Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV News)
