May 13, 2014: “Complete priestly formation is based on four pillars: the spiritual,
academic, community life and apostolic and after studies going back home not as Father
but rather as Doctor is dangerous.” Said Pope Francis to seminarians from all over
the world, who study in Rome's pontifical colleges who met him in the Vatican on Monday.
In an informal encounter with the seminarians from different universities of
Rome, Pope Francis warned them against academism, saying it was “dangerous” when
student returns from studying in Rome not as “a father”, but as “doctor.” “I would
not understand a priest a priest who is getting a degree here, in Rome, but does not
have a community life: This is wrong,” said Pope Francis. “Or does not take care of
his spiritual life – daily Mass, daily prayer, lectio divina, personal prayer with
the Lord – or the apostolic life.” He said that academic “purism” is bad, and that
if you see only the academic side of things, “there is a danger of slipping into ideology.”
He said a complete priestly formation is based on four pillars: the spiritual,
academic, community life and apostolic. He also stressed the need of community life
when formation.
“If one prepares for the priesthood alone, without a community,
it is painful,” he said. Community life “is very important because there is a sharing
between brothers…walking towards the priesthood.” Pope Francis said community life
includes problems and struggles, but also friendships and the exchange of ideas. However,
he warned against what he calls a “clerical language”, which tends to be diplomatic
to a person’s face, but less so at other times. He also spoke of the importance of
praying for each other, especially those most in need. “I assure you that if you
do these two things, the community will go on: You can live well, speak well, argue
well, pray well together…but two small things – do not speak ill of others and pray
for those with whom you have problems,” Pope Francis said. In answer to a question
about leadership, Pope Francis said there is “only one way”, which is “service.” He
also urged the seminarians to seek the help of the Virgin Mary if they feel spiritually
troubled. “First of all go [to the Mantle of Mary] and wait until there is a bit
of calm,” Pope Francis said. “Some of you will tell me…in this time of so many modern
goods – psychiatry, psychology - in this time of turbulence, I think it would be better
to see a psychiatrist to get help. But - do not dismiss this - but first go to your
Mother, because a priest who forgets [the Virgin Mary], especially in times of turbulence,
is missing something. He is an orphan priest, the one who forgets his Mother.”