Pope Benedict XVI to Priestly Fraternity of St Charles: priesthood is service

The presence of priestly vocations is a sign of the vitality of Christian life – and common life is a way to immerse oneself in the reality of the communion indicated by Christ.

These were just some of the themes on which Pope Benedict XVI touched this Saturday, when he spoke during his meeting with the Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo.

The Fraternity was founded in 1985 by Monsignor Massimo Camisasca under the inspiration of the charism of the Founder of Communion and Liberation, Msgr. Luigi Giussani, and was recognized as a Society of Apostolic Life by Pope John Paul II in 1999.

In his remarks to the Fraternity, the Holy Father also noted the ecclesial purpose of the priesthood. “The priesthood is not an end unto itself,” he said, “it was desired by God in function of the birth and life of the Church.”

“The glory and the joy of the priesthood,” said Pope Benedict, “is to serve Christ and His mystical Body.”

Listen to Chris Altieri's report: