Opening of the Academic year of Roman Pontifical Universities

(November 05, 2011) Promotion of Vocations to the priesthood was the opening concern of Pope Benedict XVI at Vespers marking the inauguration of the Academic Year of Roman Pontifical Universities on Saturday evening. “To be a priest means to be at the service of and an example to others” he said. He called for the prayers of the faithful and appropriate propaganda to attract youth to dedicate their lives to serve the Church. A propitious occasion for this appeal was provided by the 70th anniversary of the apostolic letter of Pope Pius XII, “Cum Nobis” (meaning “along with us”), which instituted the Pontifical Works for the Promotion of priestly vocations. Spurred by the fervent summons of the letter of St Peter to solidarity among the pastors of the church., the Pontiff highlighted three exhortations of that letter: namely the absolute need of pastors to be enamoured with Christ, to be administrators of the Mysteries of God gratuitously, and to be inspired by a spirit of service. He urged the young priests and seminarians not to make success the goal of their lives but to tread the way of the Cross, as the royal road to follow in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for his flock