The Pope Urgesโ Priests to Embrace Exchange, Mercy, and Fraternityโค Duringโ Jubilee Year
In a recent address, Pope Francisโค emphasized the importance of embracing the opportunities presented by jubilee years โ- specifically, the enriching โexperienceโ of encountering diverse cultures and deepening one’s understanding of divine mercy. He highlighted the significance of observing the influx of pilgrims during these holy times and actively “sharing โthe beauty”โ of different cultures, while โalso appreciating the “richness”โ of the Churches from โขwhich they โoriginate and theโฃ unique pastoral experiences each individual brings.โฃ
The Pope described livingโข this exchange as โฃ”a gift from theโค Lord,” and encouraged thoseโค present to participate fully, contributing to “the polychromy of unity and the polyphony of communion.” โฃHe further stated that jubilee years offer a โchance to cultivate a “more intenseโข awareness โof the gift of mercy that flows from the Heart of Christ.”
Focusing on this theme of divine โmercy, Pope โขFrancis drew attention to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, prominently featured โขonโ the coat of arms โขof the Portuguese โฃschoolโข toโค whom he was speaking, and toโข which its first students were consecrated.He urged โcontinued trust “in the Heart of the Lord,” a striving to “come ever closerโ to Him,” โคand a commitment to learning “mercy from Him.” He posited that a school dedicated to the Heart of Christ โฃshouldโฃ be “a school of divine mercy,” where โฃstudents, like the beloved disciple, learn toโ discern “the heartbeat of God’s love” โคand becomeโ true theologians. He extended this call to all priests, urging them to conformโ thier lives to โJesus Christ.
The pope stressed that every priestly mission provides an chance to โemulate the Good shepherd, requiring not only a “heart of flesh, a human and wise heart,” but also a heart “like that of Jesus” – one united to the Father, passionate โfor theโ Church, and filled wiht compassion. He encouragedโค priests to find rest and “recompose” the unity ofโฃ theirโข lives by remaining โin the presence of the Lord โafter demanding work, and to continually pray for โa heart capable โขof loving the Church as Heโค does.
Pope Francis also called โฃfor a spirit of welcoming โfraternity within pontifical colleges, urging priests to โpresent their “bishops,” “diocesan โcommunities,” and future “faithful” toโ God in prayer. He โencouraged them to remain close to Jesus through scripture,โข sacraments (especially โthe Eucharist), adoration, โขspiritual discernment, and โkindness. Heโ envisioned โคthe school as a “home, โฃthat is, a familyโข surroundings” where students canโฃ find belonging. Recalling โa speech by Paulโ VI, the Pope emphasized thatโข a college should be a placeโค of “collegiality, that is, a communion, a friendship, a โฃfusion of spirits,”โ rather than merely a temporary โlodging.
Heโ encouragedโ the building ofโ such a welcoming environment, referencing the school’s โฃancient title of “House โofโ Life” earned for shelteringโข Jews during World โWar II, framing it as both a legacy andโข a continuing โฃresponsibility. He urged collaboration with the Rector, โขspiritual Fathers, and the franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of โVictories to foster this fraternity.
Pope Francis expressed gratitude toโข the nuns for โtheir “dedication to priests,” their prayers, and their “spiritual motherhood,” acknowledging its significance to โคGod. He concluded โby requesting prayers – particularly the Rosary this month – and โseeking the intercession of Ourโ Ladyโ of Fatima “for me, for the Church and for peace.”
