Pope Leo: Priests must be transparent and credible

Screenshot

Source: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV ordained several men priests on Saturday at a special Mass in St Peter's Basilica on Saturday. During his homily reflecting on their mission and identity he encouraged the new priests to welcome God's grace so they might remain close to the people they serve as credible witnesses.

The Pope highlighted the relationship between the people of God and their priestly identity, which he said will grow to make them fully a part of the people to whom they are sent.

He urged the new priests to always keep in mind "that a priest's identity is rooted in union with Christ, the eternal and high priest."

Priestly ordination, he added, shows that God has never abandoned His people, remaining with us like "a gentle breeze" that restores hope and unity.

"God's joy is not loud," he said, "but it truly changes history and draws us closer to one another."

Pope Leo invited all priests to model their lives after Jesus by binding themselves to the real world, since the people they serve "are flesh and blood."

"Consecrate yourselves to them - without separating, isolating, or turning the gift you've received into a privilege," he said. "Pope Francis often warned us about this, because self-centeredness extinguishes the fire of the missionary spirit."

Pope Leo XIV noted the Church is outward-looking by her very nature, reflecting Jesus' own life, passion, death, and resurrection which is made present at every Mass they will celebrate.

"The Kingdom of God," he said, "now unites your personal freedoms, ready to go beyond themselves, grafting your minds and youthful strength into the jubilee mission Jesus entrusted to His Church."

Looking to St Paul's ministry, the Pope said priestly ministry is one of stewards, not overlords, since the "mission belongs to Jesus" and no one is called to replace Him.

As they become priests, they are invited to make room "for the faithful and for every creature in whom the Risen One draws near and loves to surprise us."

Pope Leo then emphasized St Paul's words to the community of Ephesus: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you."

Ours, he said, should be "a life that is transparent, visible, credible! We live among the people of God so that we may stand before them with a credible witness."

Only together can Christians rebuild the credibility of "a wounded Church, sent to a wounded humanity, within a wounded creation," he said.

The Pope pointed to the Risen Christ's wounds, which are both a sign of humanity's rejection and a sign of God's forgiveness and missionary mandate to the Church.

Christ's love, he said, "is a love that frees and enables us not to possess anyone. To liberate, not to possess."

Finally, Pope Leo XIV invited the 55,000 people present at the Mass to gratefully sustain these new priests in their ministry.

"Together, we unite heaven and earth," he said. "In Mary, Mother of the Church, this common priesthood shines-lifting up the lowly, linking generations, and allowing us to be called blessed."

LINK

Watch the Mass on the Vatican Media Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZaXmT_rKsg