As part of the Jubilee of Seminarians, Bishops, and Priests, Pope Leo XIV met June 26 in the Auditorium Conciliazione in Rome with the “joyful priests” responsible for vocations ministry and seminary formation.

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The event was organized by the Vatican Dicastery for the Clergy with the theme taken from St. John’s Gospel: “I have called you friends.” Also present was Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, prefect of the dicastery, whom the pontiff thanked for his “extensive and beautiful” work, which is often carried out “in silence and discretion.”

At the beginning of his address, the Holy Father encouraged the priests to cultivate “creativity, co-responsibility, and communion in the Church, so that what is sown with dedication and generosity in so many communities may become light and encouragement for all.”

Referring to Jesus’ words “I have called you friends” (Jn 15:15), the pope explained that this is “an authentic key to understanding the priestly ministry.” 

“The priest, in fact, is a friend of the Lord, called to live with him a personal and trusting relationship, nourished by the Word, the celebration of the sacraments, and daily prayer.”

What does it mean to be a friend of Christ?

For Pope Leo XIV, this friendship with Christ “is the spiritual foundation of the ordained ministry, the meaning of our celibacy, and the energy of the ecclesial service to which we dedicate our lives.” This friendship, he emphasized, “sustains us in times of trial and allows us to renew each day the ‘yes’ pronounced at the beginning of our vocation.”

The pontiff then clarified that becoming a friend of Christ “means being formed in relationships, not just in abilities.” He therefore emphasized that “priestly formation cannot be reduced to the acquisition of concepts but is a journey of familiarity with the Lord that engages the whole person — heart, intelligence, freedom — and transforms him into the image of the Good Shepherd.”

“Only those who live in friendship with Christ and are imbued with his Spirit can proclaim with authenticity, console with compassion, and guide with wisdom. This requires attentive listening, meditation, and a rich and orderly interior life,” he added.

The pope also emphasized that fraternity is “an essential aspect of priestly life,” since becoming a friend of Christ “involves living as brothers among priests and among bishops, not as competitors or isolated individuals.”

He thus urged forging strong bonds among priests “as an expression of a synodal Church, in which we grow together by sharing the joys and the painful moments of the ministry.”

Forming priests capable of loving, listening, and praying

For Leo XIV, forming priests who are friends of Christ means “forming men capable of loving, listening, praying, and serving as a community.” He thus reiterated that “it is necessary to pay great attention to the preparation of the formators, since the effectiveness of their work depends above all on the example of life and the communion among them.”

“The very existence of seminaries reminds us that the formation of future ordained ministers cannot happen in isolation,” he emphasized.

Referring to vocations, the pontiff noted that, despite the signs of crisis affecting the life and mission of priests, “God continues to call and remains faithful to his promises,” and Leo therefore called for the creation of appropriate conditions “to hear his voice.”

In this regard, he expressed the importance of creating “environments and forms of youth ministry imbued with the Gospel, where vocations to the total gift of self can emerge and mature. Have the courage to offer powerful and liberating proposals!” he exclaimed.

The thirst for the infinite and for salvation in young people

He also pointed to the challenges of our time: “Many seem to have strayed from the faith, yet deep within many people, especially young people, there is a thirst for the infinite and for salvation. Many feel an absence of God, even though every human being is made for him, and the Father’s plan is to make Christ the heart of the world.”

Given this longing, he encouraged priests to rediscover together “the missionary impetus” to be credible witnesses of the vocation they have received. “When one believes, it shows: The happiness of the minister reflects his encounter with Christ, sustaining him in mission and service.”

He also thanked the priests for their daily dedication, especially in formation centers, on the existential peripheries, and in difficult, sometimes dangerous, places. 

“Remembering the priests who have given their lives, even shedding their blood, we renew today our readiness to live, without reservations, an apostolate of compassion and joy,” he said.

“Thank you for what you are. Because you remind us all that being a priest is beautiful, and that every call from the Lord is, above all, a call to his joy. We are not perfect, but we are friends of Christ, brothers and sisters among ourselves, and children of his tender mother, Mary, and that is enough for us,” the Holy Father added.

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This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.