“Listening to the Lord, Witnessing, and Walking Together”: these are the three keys that Pope Francis spoke about today to priests, deacons, and seminarians gathered at the Vatican. 

On the morning of Monday, March 6, Pope Francis received in audience the Community of the “St. Mary’s Seminary ” of the Diocese of Cleveland (United States), on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of its foundation. 

In his speech to those present at the Vatican, the Holy Father highlighted three characteristics of the synodal process “essential for your formation as future priests and ministers of the Gospel.”  

Listening  

Firstly, the Pontiff emphasized the importance of spending time with Jesus in prayer, “listening to Him in silence before the Tabernacle.” 

“Listening to the voice of God at the bottom of our hearts and discerning His will is essential for our inner growth, especially when we face urgent and difficult tasks,” said the Pope. For the Holy Father, the life of the seminary “already offers the opportunity to cultivate a habit of prayer that will serve you in your future ministry.” 

In addition, he stressed that “listening to the Lord also implies responding with faith to everything He has revealed and that the Church transmits.” 

This, according to the Pope, allows us to “teach and proclaim to others the truth and beauty of the Gospel in an authentic and joyful way.”  

Walking together  

Next, the Holy Father indicated that the time of formation in the seminary “is an opportunity to deepen the spirit of fraternal communion.” 

In that line, he emphasized that “we must recognize ourselves as part of a one great people who have received the promises of God as a gift, not as a privilege.” “Always remember that it is important to walk with the flock, never separated from it,” he said. 

Giving witness 

Finally, he explained that “listening to God and walking with others bears fruit by becoming living signs of Jesus present in the world.” 

“The Church needs your enthusiasm, generosity, and zeal to show everyone that God is always with us, in any circumstance of life,” he later said. In conclusion, the Pope recalled that “listening, walking together, and giving testimony mark the synodal path of the Church and also your path towards priestly ordination.”