Pope Leo XIV Appeals for Unity Within the Catholic Church in Holy Year Messages to Priests
Pope Leo XIV reiterated his call for unity within the polarized Catholic Church on Friday, urging priests to work in communion with their superiors and exemplify reconciliation in a world rife with conflict and division. Leo made this appeal for unity in a series of messages to priests celebrating a special Holy Year week in Rome dedicated to clergy. He hosted a special meeting on Thursday afternoon, celebrated an ordination Mass on Friday morning, and delivered a written message to priests worldwide.
During the Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Leo ordained 32 new priests and recalled his appeal for unity during his installation Mass following his May 8 election. 'Today I share this desire once more with all of you,' he said. He quoted St. Augustine–the inspiration of his Augustinian religious order–repeating the words he said on the night of his election: 'For you I am a bishop; with you I am a Christian.'
During the meetings preceding the conclave that elected the first American pope, cardinals expressed their hope that the next pontiff would heal some of the divisions within the church that deepened during Pope Francis' 12-year pontificate. Francis' progressive social justice priorities, his informal style, liturgical flexibility, and disdain for the capitalist economic system often alienated conservatives, particularly in Leo's native US, who yearned for a new pope who could pacify divisions. Leo's consistent emphasis on unity in the church suggests he has heard those appeals and is working to respond.
In a message to priests around the world Friday, Leo offered encouragement in his appeal for unity, not a reprimand as Francis often gave priests. 'In a world marked by growing tensions, even within families and ecclesial communities, priests are called to promote reconciliation and foster communion,' Leo said. He added that priests should not be afraid of their own weaknesses. 'The Lord does not look for perfect priests, but for humble hearts that are open to conversion and prepared to love others as he himself loved us,' he said.
He gave a similar message Thursday to thousands of priests gathered in a Vatican-area auditorium for a Jubilee rally that concluded with Leo giving English-language acknowledgments to priests from various parts of the world, including his native Chicago. In the meeting, Leo acknowledged the crisis in priestly vocations, which have been declining consistently in traditionally Christian parts of the world for years, even as the overall global Catholic population grows. According to Vatican statistics, there were 407,730 priests globally at the end of 2022, down 142 from the previous year. Europe saw the greatest decline, losing 2,745 priests–a figure offset globally only by the addition of 1,676 priests in Africa and 1,160 in Asia. 'Thank you for who you are, and remind everyone that it's beautiful to be a priest,' he said. 'We aren't perfect, but we are friends of Christ … and that's enough.'
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Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Al Arabiya
Pope Leo XIV Appeals for Unity Within the Catholic Church in Holy Year Messages to Priests
Pope Leo XIV reiterated his call for unity within the polarized Catholic Church on Friday, urging priests to work in communion with their superiors and exemplify reconciliation in a world rife with conflict and division. Leo made this appeal for unity in a series of messages to priests celebrating a special Holy Year week in Rome dedicated to clergy. He hosted a special meeting on Thursday afternoon, celebrated an ordination Mass on Friday morning, and delivered a written message to priests worldwide. During the Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Leo ordained 32 new priests and recalled his appeal for unity during his installation Mass following his May 8 election. 'Today I share this desire once more with all of you,' he said. He quoted St. Augustine–the inspiration of his Augustinian religious order–repeating the words he said on the night of his election: 'For you I am a bishop; with you I am a Christian.' During the meetings preceding the conclave that elected the first American pope, cardinals expressed their hope that the next pontiff would heal some of the divisions within the church that deepened during Pope Francis' 12-year pontificate. Francis' progressive social justice priorities, his informal style, liturgical flexibility, and disdain for the capitalist economic system often alienated conservatives, particularly in Leo's native US, who yearned for a new pope who could pacify divisions. Leo's consistent emphasis on unity in the church suggests he has heard those appeals and is working to respond. In a message to priests around the world Friday, Leo offered encouragement in his appeal for unity, not a reprimand as Francis often gave priests. 'In a world marked by growing tensions, even within families and ecclesial communities, priests are called to promote reconciliation and foster communion,' Leo said. He added that priests should not be afraid of their own weaknesses. 'The Lord does not look for perfect priests, but for humble hearts that are open to conversion and prepared to love others as he himself loved us,' he said. He gave a similar message Thursday to thousands of priests gathered in a Vatican-area auditorium for a Jubilee rally that concluded with Leo giving English-language acknowledgments to priests from various parts of the world, including his native Chicago. In the meeting, Leo acknowledged the crisis in priestly vocations, which have been declining consistently in traditionally Christian parts of the world for years, even as the overall global Catholic population grows. According to Vatican statistics, there were 407,730 priests globally at the end of 2022, down 142 from the previous year. Europe saw the greatest decline, losing 2,745 priests–a figure offset globally only by the addition of 1,676 priests in Africa and 1,160 in Asia. 'Thank you for who you are, and remind everyone that it's beautiful to be a priest,' he said. 'We aren't perfect, but we are friends of Christ … and that's enough.'
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2 days ago
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A New Year
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These are the celebs who are attending Jeff Bezos' Venice wedding
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