This Friday, June 27, the Catholic Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for the sanctification of the priests, which coincides with the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
On the occasion of this date, Pope Leo XIV sent an emotional and tender message, in paternal tone, to all the priests of the world.
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Within the framework of the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Holy Father stressed that “the heart of Christ, transferred by his love, is the living and vivifying flesh that welcomes each of us, transforming us into the image of the good shepherd.”
“In him,” the Pontiff added, “ The true identity of our ministry is understood: burning by the mercy of God, we are joyful witnesses of his love that heals, accompanies and redeems. ”
For Pope Leo XIV, today’s party “renews in our hearts the call to the total delivery of ourselves to the service of the Holy People of God”, a mission that “begins with prayer and continues in the union with the Lord, who continually revives in us his gift: the holy vocation to the priesthood.”
“Only in the heart of Jesus we find our true humanity”
The Pope also said that “only we memory we live and revive what the Lord has given us, and asks us, in turn, to transmit it in his name.”
“Memory unifies our hearts in the heart of Christ and our life in the life of Christ, so that we can bring to the Holy People of God the word and the sacraments of salvation, for a world reconciled in love,” he added.
In addition, he clarified that “only in the heart of Jesus we find our true humanity of children of God and brothers among us.”
Therefore, Pope Leo XIV addressed presbyters an urgent invitation: “Be unity and peace builders!” He exclaimed.
In this context, he recalled that the priest “is called to promote reconciliation and generate communion”, being pastors capable of discerning, “skilled in the art of recovering the fragments of life that are entrusted to us, to help people find the light of the Gospel within the tribulations of existence.”
For the pontiff, this also means being “wise readers of reality, going beyond the emotions of the moment, fears and fashions; it means offering pastoral proposals that generate and regenerate faith, building good relationships, solidarity links, communities where the style of fraternity shines”.
“Don’t fear your fragility”
“Being unity and peace builders does not mean imposing, but serving. In particular, priestly fraternity becomes a credible sign of the presence of the risen among us when it characterizes the common path of our presbyters,” he said.
On this date indicated, Pope Leo XIV invited them to renew their “yes” to God and the people, urging them to “mold by grace” and guard “the fire of the spirit received in the ordination so that, together with Him, they can be a sacrament of Jesus’ love in the world.”
“They do not fear his fragility: the Lord does not seek perfect priests, but humble hearts, available to conversion and willing to love as he himself has loved us,” he warned below.
Finally, Pope Leo XIV reminded the priests that his ministry will be all the more fruitful “the more he is rooted in prayer, in forgiveness, in the vicinity of the poor, the families, the young people in search of the truth.”
“Do not forget it: a holy priest makes holiness flourish around him,” the Holy Father wrote finally.
Almudena Martínez-Bordiú
Graduated in journalism and advertising from the CEU San Pablo University of Madrid. Specialized in religious information in Spain since 2015. It has been a senior correspondent for ACI Press and Ewtn News at the Vatican for two years and is currently a correspondent for Europe based on Spain.