Pope to Rome’s priests: ‘You are all precious in the eyes of God’

Pope Leo XIV meets with the priests of the Diocese of Rome (@Vatican Media)

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

“I thank you for your lives given in service to the Kingdom, for your daily labors, for so much generosity in the exercise of the ministry, for all that you live in silence, and that at times is accompanied by suffering or misunderstanding.”

Pope Leo XIV gave this reminder when receiving all priests of the Diocese of Rome in the Vatican this morning, along with deacons and seminarians of the Diocese.

Before addressing those before him, Pope Leo said, “I would like to ask for a strong round of applause for all of you, those of you who are here and all the priests and deacons of Rome!”

‘Precious in the eyes of God’

The Holy Father emphasized that he greets them all with affection and friendship, and saying he wished to have this encounter in order to get to know them more closely and begin walking together.

While recognizing they carry out different services, he stressed, “you are all precious in the eyes of God and in the realization of His plan.”

“You are all precious in the eyes of God and in the realization of His plan”

Must protect our spiritual lives

The Holy Father remembered their Diocese is “truly particular,” because many priests come from different parts of the world, and therefore, due to this universality, he wished to discuss three points. The first, he said, is particularly close to his heart, and is unity and communion.

Pope Leo stressed that “the Lord knows well that when priests are only united to Him,” and that, “united among ourselves, they can bear fruit and give the world a credible witness.” The presbyter, he insisted, is called to be a man of communion, but, he lamented, “we know that this communion is today hindered by a cultural climate that promotes isolation or self-reference.”

None of us, he observed, is exempt from these snares that threaten the solidity of our spiritual life.

With this in mind, he reassured, “I would like to help you, to walk with you, so that each one may regain serenity in his ministry; but precisely for this, I ask you for a renewed effort in priestly fraternity, which is rooted in a solid spiritual life, in the encounter with the Lord and in listening to His Word.”

Communion, he noted, must also be translated into commitment within this Diocese, saying that walking together “is always a guarantee of faithfulness to the Gospel.”

Must be exemplary and credible

He next turned to the second point of ‘being exemplary.’

The Pope recalled that when he had ordained priests on May 31, he had underscored how important is having transparent lives, based on the words of Saint Paul who said to the elders of Ephesus: “You know how I lived”

Thus, Pope Leo urged, “I ask you this with the heart of a father and a pastor, let us all commit to being credible and exemplary priests!” – Vatican News