The Pope thanks priests and encourages them to share responsibilities with the laity

Cindy Wooden, OSV

At a time when so much pressure and so many demands are placed on priests, they must find support, freedom, and relief in recognizing the gifts of the laity and collaborating with them, said Pope Leo XIV.

«The ministry of the priest must overcome the model of exclusive leadership, which leads to the centralization of pastoral activities and the weight of all responsibilities entrusted solely to him,» wrote the Pope in an apostolic letter entitled «A fidelity that generates future.».

The letter, published on December 22, marks the 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council's decrees on priestly formation and on the life and ministry of priests. Optatam totius y Presbyterorum ordinis.

Pope Leo XIV used the letter to express his «gratitude for the witness and dedication of all priests throughout the world who offer their lives by celebrating the sacrifice of Our Lord in the Eucharist, proclaiming the Word, and absolving sins, as well as generously devoting themselves each day to their brothers and sisters, fostering communion and unity among them, and taking special care of those who suffer most and are in need.».

Training in seminars

He also said that the Church must «look carefully and compassionately» at the backgrounds of priests who have left active ministry and ensure that seminary programs engage «the whole person, the heart, the mind, and the freedom» to help men make a lifelong commitment.

Pope Leo XIV did not ignore the crisis of clerical sexual abuse and said that it also showed the importance of thorough preparation for ministry.

«In recent decades, the crisis of confidence in the Church caused by abuses committed by members of the clergy has filled us with shame and called us to humility,» he wrote. «It has made us even more aware of the urgent need for comprehensive training that ensures the personal growth and maturity of candidates for the priesthood, along with a rich and solid spiritual life.».

Celibacy

The letter did not mention that in several Eastern Catholic churches, married men can be ordained as priests. But it insisted that «only priests and consecrated persons who are humanly mature and spiritually solid, that is, those in whom the human and spiritual dimensions are well integrated and who are therefore capable of authentic relationships with everyone, can take on the commitment of celibacy and credibly proclaim the Gospel of the Risen One.».

Most of the letter focused on fidelity, missionary commitment, and the recognition that a priest's vocation arises from his baptism, a sacrament he shares with all Catholics.

«Our contemporary world, characterized by its fast pace and the anxious need to be hyperconnected, often makes us feel rushed and inclines us toward activism,» wrote the Pope.

Priestly temptations

Two very negative consequences that can tempt priests, he said, are «an efficiency-oriented mindset, whereby each person's value is measured by performance» or simply withdrawing, «adopting a lazy and defeatist approach.».

Pope Leo XIV told priests that nothing can replace time devoted to personal prayer and the celebration of the sacraments and the cultivation of a special bond of brotherhood with fellow priests, but that this should never lead to a feeling of superiority over the laity.

«Even before dedicating himself to guiding the flock,» wrote the Pope, «every priest must constantly remember that he himself is a disciple of the Master, like his brothers and sisters.».

Synodality

In the letter, the Pope emphasized the importance of involving priests in efforts to create a more synodal Church, characterized by mutual listening, joint discernment of God's will, and recognition that every baptized Catholic has something to contribute to the mission of the Church.

«Communion, synodality, and mission cannot be realized if, in the hearts of priests, the temptation of self-referentiality does not give way to a mentality of listening and service,» wrote Pope Leo XIV. In encouraging a more synodal Church, he said, «there is still much to be done.».

A priest is called to let Christ's love and mercy shine through him, the Pope said, so he must avoid «all forms of selfishness and self-celebration.».

For this reason, Pope Leo XIV encouraged priests to carefully evaluate their presence in the media and on social networks, “placing service to evangelization as the basis for discernment,” because, as 1 Corinthians says, “everything is lawful for me, but not everything is beneficial.”.