The Pope ordains nine priests: “Be servants of God, not entrepreneurs”

Vatican City

April 25, 4th Sunday of Easter and 58th World Day of Prayer for Vocations dedicated to the figuara of Saint Joseph: the dream of the vocation; Pope Francis presided over Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at 9 a.m. local time during which he ordained nine deacons trained in seminaries and colleges in the capital.

In his homily, the Holy Father reflected on the figure of Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” presented in the Sunday Gospel according to John 10, 11-18: the model of the shepherd who gives his life for his sheep and to whom these new priests, they are called to imitate.

In this context, the Pope explained that although the Lord Jesus is the only High Priest of the New Testament, “in him also all the holy people of God have become a priestly people”.

Likewise, Francis recalled that among all his disciples “The Lord Jesus wanted to choose some in particular, so that by exercising publicly in the Church, in his name, the priestly function for the benefit of all men, they continue their personal mission of teacher, priest and pastor . ”

Follow the path of the “four quarters”

Addressing these “men chosen by God” to serve his Church, the Pontiff exhorted them to lead their priestly vocation in “the beautiful path of the four quarters: closeness to God, to the bishop, to other priests and to the people of God.”

“Because the style of closeness – affirmed the Successor of Peter – is the style of God: a style of compassion and tenderness. Don’t close your heart to problems (and you will see a lot of them). Support people in their problems. Practice compassion. it will lead you to forgiveness and mercy. Be merciful, be ‘forgiving’ because God never tires of forgiving. We are the ones who tire of asking for forgiveness. I want you to follow that style, which is God’s style. “

“Stay away from money, pride and vanity”

Likewise, the Holy Father warned deacons about to be promoted to the order of the presbytery, on the importance of moving away from money, pride and vanity:

“The devil comes in through the pockets – he added – Think about it. Be poor as poor is the holy People of God. Do not be climbers following” the ecclesiastical career “, because then they will become businessmen and officials, who will lose this poverty that he resembles poor Christ, the Crucified. Do not be business priests but servants. Stay away from money “, declared the bishop of Rome.

On the other hand, the Pope asked the ordinands to remember the beauty of the path of the four fences, because Jesus consoles the shepherds: