By Christopher Wells
Pope Leo XIV focused on seminarians’ relationship with Jesus in an address to seminarians from two Italian seminaries, the Pius XI Regional Seminary in Molfetta, Puglia; and the Episcopal Seminary of Aversa, Campania.
The Pope emphasized that “study, discipline, and the stages of the journey” are necessary elements of formation, but must be grounded in a relationship with God.
The heart of the seminary experience
Reflecting on St Mark’s account of the appointment of twelve Apostles, Pope Leo described the seminary “experience,” beginning with “climbing the mountain” to be with Jesus. There, he said, “we can reach Christ and, above all, remain with Him,” which the Pope described as “the heart of the seminary experience.”
He recalled, too, that, as with the Apostles, Jesus calls men to the priesthood as an entirely free choice: “Jesus called to Himself those whom He wanted”; that is, not from merit, but “only by a free choice on the part of God the Father, a sign and pledge of a gratuitous love that always anticipates us and never disappoints.”
A sign of hope for the whole Church
Pope Leo told those studying for the priesthood that their very presence in seminary was “a sign of hope for the whole Church.”
“As I look upon you,” he said, I contemplate the wonder of God, who never tires of whispering in the hearts of young people the beauty of giving one’s life for Him and for the Church.”
Seminary, he continued, remains as necessary today as it was in the past. The Holy Father insisted on the importance of a period of formation that allows time for discernment in the midst of a fast-paced and noisy world.
At the same time, he emphasized the importance of community, recalling that Jesus called the Apostles as a community, as seminarians today are called into a community. Seminarians, he said, are not called for a purely private journey with the Lord, but “must always sense and experience the beauty of ecclesial mediation”.
Coming down from the mountain
Finally, Pope Leo said, seminary formation involves “coming down from the mountain, because the mountain is not a refuge”. Like the Apostles, seminarians are called to communicate to the world “the newness of life” that they have discovered with Jesus.
“You will therefore be called to come down from the mountain, to be sent to the people of your lands”, he said. “The priest is sent to all so that he may proclaim to all the beauty of Faith in Jesus Christ, the good news of salvation – the salvation given to us through Mary.” He invited them to entrust themselves to Mary so that they might have the grace to say “Yes” to Jesus every day, as she did.
Pope Leo concluded his address to seminarians by saying thank you, not only to seminarians, but also to their families, in his own name and in that of the entire Church. – Vatican News
