To say that the priests of Rome have been demoralized over the past 13 years is an understatement!
But fresh air through open windows is blowing like a gentle breeze, this breeze is reaching all the clergy and laity of the world, especially we young Catholics!
From Silere non Possum:
Vatican City - Without clamor, without triumphant announcements or leaked communiqués to journalists, this morning Pope Leo XIV held his first private audience as the new Bishop of Rome. The recipient of the meeting was not a head of state or a high diplomatic representative, but Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome.
Leo XIV chose to begin his ministry as Pontiff in this way, marking in practice and not in words, his connection with the Urbe. No public emphasis on the meaning of the meeting, but a clear message: the Pope intends to be, first of all, the Bishop of Rome, for his priests and take care of them.
Behind the sobriety of gestures there is a deep awareness. Leo XIV knows well what happens inside the Vicariate and in the Diocese of Rome: the power games, the intrigues, the questionable choices that, over the years, have favored some to the detriment of others. A reality documented and denounced for a long time by rumors like Silere non possum. Yet, more than struggling with the shadows of the past, the new Pontiff seems to want to look forward, with lucidity, mildness, listening and a decisive step. His first concern is clear: the priests and the people of God of his diocese. It is to them that he wants to turn his energy and his care. And for this reason, on his first official day of meetings he chose to meet his vicar to whom he has already expressed the desire to meet the priests.
A symbolic and concrete gesture together marks the beginning of the journey that Leo XIV wishes to undertake as a pastor, close to his priests and his people. The attention that Pope Leone has immediately reserved for priestly vocations will also mean that the Pontiff will return to visit his seminary and dialogue with the trainers and future priests of his diocese. On May 31, 2025, Pope Prevost has already decided to preside over the presbytery ordinations in St. Peter's Basilica.
Thus begins, without clamor, a pontificate that announces itself sober, attentive to the real life of the Church and oriented to rediscover the authentic roots of Peter's ministry. Rome, once again, is in the center: unlike what has happened in recent times, the Pope does not exalt the title of Bishop of Rome to belittle that of Supreme Pontiff. On the contrary, he takes care with awareness and depth of his being Bishop of this Church, from which derives - by grace and by mission - also his universal responsibility as Pontiff of the Catholic Church.
8 comments:
It is a shame that during the past 13 years, that priests of the Diocese of Rome experienced, for whatever reason(s) supposed demoralization. Had I been such a priest, I would have turned to Pope Francis for inspiration and spiritual guidance.
The "demoralized" priests in question did not think of that? That is a shame
as Pope Leo XIV has assured us that Pope Francis was a holy, humble, man of God who had pastored the Church in outstanding fashion.
His Holiness, for example, declared the following just two days as he addressed the Cardinals:
"Dear Brother Cardinals,
Beginning with Saint Peter and up to myself, his unworthy Successor, the Pope has been a humble servant of God and of his brothers and sisters, and nothing more than this.
"It has been clearly seen in the example of so many of my Predecessors, and most recently by Pope Francis himself, with his example of complete dedication to service and to sober simplicity of life, his abandonment to God throughout his ministry and his serene trust at the moment of his return to the Father’s house.
"Let us take up this precious legacy and continue on the journey, inspired by the same hope that is born of faith."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
I think Pope Leo will be very attentive to the priests of Rome listening to their concerns and reasons for low morale. He won’t dismiss these or call these priests backwards or mentally I’ll or not having turned to pope Francis in their demoralization.
It is really sad that some folks can't process both the good and the bad about a person. I am still trying to figure out what good things I could point to about Francis. In my lifetime he ranks at the very bottom, and I go back to Pius XII
Father McDonald, I agree with you that Pope Leo XIV will be "very attentive to the priests of Rome listening to their concerns and reasons for low morale."
If profound demoralization exists among Rome's priests, then I am certain that Pope Leo XIV will address that issue. I remain puzzled, however, as to why, in light of the following, such supposed profound demoralization exists among Rome's priests:
Again, if Pope Leo XIV has told the truth, then the priests at Rome had been blessed with a holy, humble, outstanding bishop in Pope Francis. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had spoken similarly in regard to Pope Francis.
Despite the presence of such a holy, humble, outstanding bishop, the priests at Rome are demoralized?
Perhaps the following may explain things: Our future Pope Benedict XVI had portrayed the priesthood as filthy to its core. In addition, more than a few folks here and elsewhere have insisted that beginning decades ago, vile, perverted priests had filled Rome.
That, if true, is the horrific situation that Pope Francis had inherited in regard to the priesthood.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
We all saw, MT, the duplicity in Pope Francis snarky remarks denigrating people with whom he disagreed, especially young clergy and laity who love tradition and he called these young seminarians and clergy, monster and those who love tradition mentally ill. As it concerns the filthy priesthood, Pope Benedict was speaking about pedophilia. He didn’t call all young clergy and seminarians pedophiles. Pope Francis embraced as one of his best friends who was the first priest he made a bishop, Bishop Zanchetta and promoted him to a cushy Vatican position after he was credibly accused and eventually convicted of abusing young seminarians the priests. He gave Fr. Rupnick a pass, kept his art in his room despite the vile and sacriigious things he did to nuns. He believed Bishop Barros, whom he appointed bishop, over those laity in Chile who had an accused him of abuse. After one of the most disastrous and catastrophic papal visit in recent history, Pope Francis’ visit to Chile, small crowds and violence in the streets due to Barros and the sex scandal, Francis then and only then had a conversion. This is what caused and causes low moral.
When one isn't assured that the general has your back, is there still an army?
Father McDonald,
Well said. I did not want Pope Francis to fail or be a divisive figure, but he was. He was his own worst enemy.
Here is a pretty good summary of some of the serious flaws in his approach:
"Though Francis had talked of dialogue and openness in the church, he did not tolerate any criticism well.
Nor did Francis have much toleration for church traditions, including the Latin Mass, which he had sought to ban.
His reprisals against priests, bishops, and cardinals who spoke out against some of his radical statements and policies were often petty and nasty.
The cardinals openly discussed these and other problems in the pre-conclave meetings.
One problem was the bad concordant made between the Vatican and China.
Some saw it as a sellout to the Communist Chinese regime, giving Beijing de facto control over the church in China.
Cardinal Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, was largely blamed for it.
And then there were financial abuse issues in the Vatican.
The Vatican has numerous financial problems, including a $1.5 billion unfunded liability for its pension system.
Several cardinals insisted the next Pope leave the Vatican hotel, Santa Marta, and return to the papal apartments.
Francis lived in Santa Marta, causing security and space issues for Cardinals and Bishops. (Leo has moved his residence back to the papal apartments.)"
And that's just the short list!
Fr. AJM,
What, you mean being called a little monster by your spiritual father could be demoralizing? Next you'll be saying that the pope is not the center of our faith. How could you?!
Nick
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