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The Holy Father praised the enthusiasm of the religious men and women, especially the elderly who he said, follow in “the footsteps of Christ.”
Stressing the need for them to give witness in their religious life, the Pope said that Christ must be at the center, while exhorting them to not be caught up in fights or disagreements against superiors or colleagues.
“To leave making a family, having children, conjugal life, which is all beautiful, only to end up fighting with a bishop, a priest or the faithful, with a bitter face, this isn’t right,” he said.
“Jesus must be at the center.”
The Holy Father also exhorted seminarians to do the same. “I tell you one thing,” he said. “If you do not have Jesus at the center, hold off your ordination. If you are not sure that Christ is at the center, wait a bit more time to be sure. If not, you will start a path that you won’t know how to finish.”
Being a Witness of Mercy
Continuing his address, Pope Francis said that in order to place Christ at the center, they must first go to His Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. “A priest, a bishop, a religious who does not pray to Our Lady, who does not pray the Rosary …], the Mother will be unable to give Her Son,” he said.
“The center and essence of Our Lady is a mother, who gives Jesus to us.”
zenit.org/en/articles/pope-to-clergy-of-naples-live-in-adoration-love-for-the-church-and-apostolic-zeal
Stressing the need for them to give witness in their religious life, the Pope said that Christ must be at the center, while exhorting them to not be caught up in fights or disagreements against superiors or colleagues.
“To leave making a family, having children, conjugal life, which is all beautiful, only to end up fighting with a bishop, a priest or the faithful, with a bitter face, this isn’t right,” he said.
“Jesus must be at the center.”
The Holy Father also exhorted seminarians to do the same. “I tell you one thing,” he said. “If you do not have Jesus at the center, hold off your ordination. If you are not sure that Christ is at the center, wait a bit more time to be sure. If not, you will start a path that you won’t know how to finish.”
Being a Witness of Mercy
Continuing his address, Pope Francis said that in order to place Christ at the center, they must first go to His Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. “A priest, a bishop, a religious who does not pray to Our Lady, who does not pray the Rosary …], the Mother will be unable to give Her Son,” he said.
“The center and essence of Our Lady is a mother, who gives Jesus to us.”
zenit.org/en/articles/pope-to-clergy-of-naples-live-in-adoration-love-for-the-church-and-apostolic-zeal