The Pope to seminarians: “The beauty of giving one’s life for Him and for the Church”

– Courtney Mares, OSV News

Pope Leo XIV has encouraged future priests to make the most of their years in the seminary by grounding every aspect of their formation in a deep personal relationship with God.

“The heart of the retreat experience lies in «learning to be with the Master, the Lord Jesus,”” the Pope said in a audience with Italian seminarians in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican.

“Every vocation arises from an intimate dialogue with God, nurtured in silence and prayer, which often takes place despite the sometimes deafening noise of the world,” said the Pope.

God “chose those whom he willed”

The Pope met with seminarians from two seminaries in southern Italy: the Pius XI Regional Seminary in Apulia and the Episcopal Seminary of Aversa in Campania.

“In a world so eager to celebrate self-fulfillment, it is truly important to reiterate that none of you—nor any of us—is here because we deserve it. But solely because of a free choice made by God the Father—a sign and a promise of a gratuitous love that always goes before us and never disappoints,” Pope Leo told the young people.

“There’s no competition, no ranking, and nowhere does it say that he chose the best: He chose whoever he wanted,” he added.

A necessity in a world that's always in a hurry

The Pope emphasized that the time devoted to the seminary today is most necessary never, “in a world that’s always in a hurry.”.

Precisely because we live in fast-paced and noisy times, “we need a space and a moment in life where we can learn to be present, to discern, and to allow ourselves to grow without taking shortcuts,” he said. “The seminary is not a postponement of the mission, but a prerequisite for it.”.

Hope for the entire Church, and the beauty of giving one's life for Him

“Dear seminarians, your very presence in the seminary is a sign of hope for the entire Church,” the Holy Father told them. “Not a vague optimism, but the certainty that the Lord always calls—in every era of history and in every place.”.

“As I look at each one of you, I behold the wonder of God, who never tires of whispering to the hearts of young people ”the beauty of giving one's life for Him and for the Church.".

Thanks for saying “yes,” and also to the families

Pope Leo XIV thanked the young people for their “yes” to God’s call and reiterated that their presence at the seminary is “a sign of hope for the entire Church.”.

The Holy Father also expressed his “most sincere gratitude to the families present here. A vocation never arises without a supportive environment, and it often requires a home and parents who pray and know how to let go. To you, dear families, I offer my gratitude and that of the entire Church.”.

Preparing to Be Sent Out

He encouraged the seminarians to remember that they are being prepared to be sent out to share the good news of life in Christ with the world: “To those families who can barely make ends meet, to young people in their twenties who are packing their bags to look for work, to the elderly who live alone, to the marginalized, and to those who have lost their sense of purpose.”.

“The priest is sent to all people to proclaim to everyone the beauty of faith in Jesus Christ, the good news of our salvation,” said the Successor of Peter.

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– Courtney Mares is the Vatican correspondent for OSV News. Follow her on X @catholiccourtney.

– This information was originally published in OSV News, and you can read it there here.