Pope ordains 14 new priests

(June 21, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday ordained 14 priests from the diocese of Rome at a solemn Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, warning that “the priesthood can never be a way to achieve security in life or to gain a position in society". The man who wants above all to achieve a personal ambition, achieve personal success, will always be a slave to himself and public opinion, the Pope said in his homily. In order to be considered, he will have to flatter; to say what people want to hear, he will have to adjust to changing fashions and opinions and thus deprive himself of the vital relationship with the truth, reducing himself to condemning tomorrow what he would praise today. A man who plans his life like this, a priest who sees his ministry in these terms, the Pope said, does not truly love God and others, only himself and, paradoxically, ends up losing himself. According to Pope Benedict, the real way to be priest is indicated by St. Peter who confessed, "you are the Christ of God," which made Simon the first of the apostles. The Pope thus invited priests to deepen in their prayer life, reminding them in prayer they are called to rediscover the ever new face of their Lord and always the most authentic content of his mission. "Only he who has an intimate relationship with the Lord is drawn by him, can bring him to others, can be sent," the Pope added.