Pope urges priests to live their life in prophetic fidelity and witness to Christ

(March 12, 2010) In our secularized world where God is being gradually excluded from public life and common consciousness, priests should assume with greater urgency the prophetic task of being faithful and witnessing to Christ. Pope Benedict XVI made the point to some 700 bishops and priests participating in an international theological conference in Rome on the theme “Fidelity of Christ – Fidelity of the Priest.” The two-day meet that concluded on Friday was organized by the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy. Pope Benedict noted that in today’s secularized context, where God is being progressively excluded from public sphere and common social consciousness, the priest often appears irrelevant precisely because of the most fundamental aspects of his ministry, such as being holy and removed from the world in order to intercede for the world. For this, the Holy Father said, it is important to overcome the danger of a priest being regarded almost as a "social worker", which risks betraying the very priesthood of Christ. Hence Pope Benedict urged that in the call to participate in the one priesthood of Christ, the “charism of prophecy” should flourish in the ordained ministry. He said there is great need of priests who speak of God to the world and present God to the world; that men are not subject to passing cultural fads, and that they are able to authentically live the freedom that comes only from belonging to God. What is most needed today, the Pope said, is the prophecy of fidelity which, starting from the faithfulness of Christ to mankind through the Church and the ministerial priesthood, leads the priest to live his priesthood in total conformity to Christ and his Church. This prophetic life without compromise will help in realizing the Kingdom and the growth of the people of God in faith, Pope Benedict added.