Pope Benedict XVI Address to the Community of the French Seminary in Rome

(June 6, 2009) The task of training priests is a delicate mission. The training of seminarians is demanding, because they are chosen people of God to be entrusted to the pastoral care as future priests, to serve the people that Christ has saved and for which he gave his life, said Pope Benedict XVI. He was speaking to the Community of French Pontifical Seminary in Rome, on Saturday, 6^th of June. The Pope complimented the Institute for the service rendered over the past 150 years, training more than 5000 young seminarians and priests in the Lord’s service. He added that the skills required of future priests are numerous: the human maturity, the spiritual qualities, the apostolic zeal, intellectual rigor ... To achieve these virtues, the candidates for the priesthood must be able not only to witness with their trainers, but they must be the primary beneficiaries of these qualities and experience provided by those responsible to grow. Recalling the year dedicated to the priest, namely the current year, the Pontiff said that while the priest receives his mission given to him as it is given to the whole Church, the ability to scrutinize more deeply the identity of the priest is essential, which is the mystery of grace and mercy. He added that the example of the holy Curé of Ars be a guide to the many young Christians who want to dedicate a useful and fruitful life in the service of God's love. The Pope then invoked on all abundant grace of the Lord through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Clare and Blessed Pius IX, and granted his Apostolic Blessing.