Pope to Schoenstatt movement, contemplation, service, fraternity

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met on Thursday with priests of the Schoenstatt Movement who are in Rome for their General Chapter.

The Apostolic Movement of Schoenstatt was founded by Father Joseph Kentenich in Germany in 1914 and has a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The priests of the movement are in Rome for their General Chapter and on Thursday were received by Pope Francis in the Vatican.

Listen to Lydia O’Kane's report

In his prepared remarks to those gathered, the Pope reflected at length on priestly mission, telling them that the priest is not above or in front of others but he walks with them. He said, that what their founder wanted for his priests was for them to “selflessly serve the Church, and the community and for the movement to maintain its unity and mission.

Pope Francis went on to explain that on the one hand the priest has to climb to the watchtower of contemplation, as he put it, in order to enter the heart of God. On the other hand he is called to serve.

The Holy Father also stressed that all their challenges should be faced in the spirit of brotherhood and not alone.

He then added that fraternity is a great school of discipleship in which you have to learn to endure but above all demonstrate brotherly love. Living together, even when there are at times arguments is part of the experience because the Pope said, with prayer and forgiveness, everything passes.

Finally, Pope Francis entrusted to the group three things he would like them to do. The first, support and care for families, the second, to devote much time to the sacrament of reconciliation during the Jubilee of Mercy. And thirdly, he asked them to pray for him because, the Pope said, “I need it.”