Pope to priests: Joy is the source of your action

The Pope met with this group of priests from the Church of San Luis de los Franceses, which brings together the French community in the Eternal City.

Already a cardinal, Francis used to visit this church during his trips to Rome. Since it conserves “The vocation of Saint Matthew”, a work by Caravaggio that the Pope admires for its meaning.

Francis advised them not to live a priesthood “isolated from the people of God”, since that “is not Christian.”

FRANCISCO
“I invite you to always have great horizons, to dream, to dream of a Church at the service of all, a more fraternal and supportive world. And for this, as protagonists, they have a contribution to offer. Do not be afraid to dare, to take risks, to move forward because you can do everything with Christ who gives you the strength to do it ”.

The Pope reminded them that “the priest is a man who, in the light of the Gospel, spreads the flavor of God around him and transmits hope to restless hearts.” Therefore, they cannot always have serious faces.

FRANCISCO
“Priestly joy is the source of your action as missionaries of your time.”

Before ending the meeting, the Pope thanked Father Landousies, one of his closest collaborators in the French language until this month, for the work. In addition to praising his work, he said that, in the midst of a long illness, he knew how to give “the testimony of a happy and consistent priest.”

Romereports.com