Pope to seminarians: ‘A priest not close to his bishop is lame’

By Kielce Gussie

“Have a nice day. How silent you are! It was with these words that Pope Francis greeted a group from a seminary in Toledo, Spain. He jokingly asked them if they were going to Rome for a visit tourist or as penance.

“Priests must be close” to four groups

Inviting the bishops, formators, staff and seminarians present to develop a simple spirituality, the Pope exhorted them to foster proximity with four groups of people. First, they must be close to God, in order to “have the ability to find the Lord.” The second group is a reciprocal proximity, between priests and bishops. “A priest who is not close to his bishop,” Pope Francis warned, “is ‘lame’ and he lacks something.”

Furthermore, he reminded the group that there must be a feeling of solidarity among them, “which already begins in the seminary”. The final group with whom priests should be close are the laity, “the holy and faithful people of God.”

“A priest who is not close to his bishop,” Pope Francis warned, “is ‘lame’ and he lacks something.”

A Eucharistic feast

Pope Francis reflected on the seminary group preparing for an ancient tradition that commemorates the first time the Eucharist was celebrated in the Tabernacle, which he called a “reserved” feast procession.” He highlighted three important moments of tradition: the mass, the exposition of the Holy Eucharist throughout the day and the closing procession. The Pope stressed that this commemoration highlights fundamental aspects of the priesthood.

The first being Mass, because it is the moment when Jesus enters our lives. “Jesus calls us, as the Church,” Pope Francis said, “to make ourselves present in the priesthood and in the people, in the sacrament and in the Word.” After Mass, the Eucharist is displayed in the monstrance throughout the day. The Pope encouraged seminarians and priests to spend time before the Eucharist as an opportunity to listen to God. He said it is “only a personal encounter, an encounter of love, with Jesus who illuminates, sustains and sustains the course of our earthly day.”

The Pope urged the group to foster closeness with four groups of people as priests.

The third and final part of the festival is the monstrance procession. Pope Francis used this to remind us that the priestly ministry is about bringing Christ to his people. He closed the meeting by leaving the group with his wish for them. “I hope that, without taking our eyes off the One who leads us,” he said, “we will learn to walk together in the hope of the encounter that we already sacramentally enjoy here.”