What you say and how you live always go hand in hand, building up
the church and the people of God, Pope Francis told new priests. "Therefore,
may your doctrine be nourishment to the people of God, joy and supporting those
faithful to Christ (be) the fragrance of your life, because the word and
example go together," he said. "Word
and example edify the house of God, which is the church," he said in his
homily April 17, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Celebrating
Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis ordained 11 new priests; nine were
ordained for the Diocese of Rome and two of the new priests -- including one
born in Baghdad -- belong to the Rogationist religious order. In
his homily, the pope urged the men to read, reflect on and teach the word of
God and to be a living example of what they preach. He
asked that they imitate Jesus in their lives, including "carrying Christ's
death" inside of them and walking with him in new life. "Without the
cross you will never find the true Jesus. And a cross without Christ has no
meaning." In
administering the sacraments, especially the sacrament of penance, show mercy,
he told them. "Please, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord, and in the
name of the church, I asked you to be merciful, very merciful." He
reminded the men that they were called by Jesus to continue his mission as
teacher, priest and shepherd, and to serve the church and the people of God. "Always
have in front of your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd, who didn't come to
be served, but to serve and to look for and save those who were lost," he
said. Later
in the day, the pope told those gathered in St. Peter's Square for the
"Regina Coeli" prayer that the image of a shepherd with his flock
"shows the close relationship that Jesus wants to establish with each one
of us." "He
is our guide, our teacher, our friend, our role model, but above all, he is our
Savior," the pope said. Christ
has saved humanity and "nothing and nobody will be able to wrench us from
Jesus' hands because nothing and no one can overpower his love," he said.
"Jesus' love is invincible." While
the devil and his minions try all sorts of ways to tear this promise of eternal
life away from people, "the evil one cannot do anything unless we open the
doors of our soul to him, and follow his deceptive enticements," he said.
Pope Saint John Paul II , a towering figure of the 20th century, was a staunch critic of socialist ideologies. He recognized the inherent flaws in systems that sought to control economies and societies through centralized planning and state ownership. The pontiff's teachings offered a prophetic warning against the dangers of such regimes, which often led to oppression, poverty, and the erosion of individual freedoms. Recently, a conference organized by the Catholic Association of Propagandists in Spain brought together prominent figures who echoed the concerns raised by the late Pope. Bishop José Ignacio Munilla of Orihuela-Alicante boldly declared socialism an "enemy of the cross," highlighting its incompatibility with Christian values. He emphasized the need for a spiritual renewal, urging individuals to embrace the cross as a path to true happiness and fulfillment. French philosopher Fabrice Hadjadj also addressed the challenges posed by modern society, warning ag...