Pope meets the priests of Rome

(February 23.2012) As Bishop of Rome, Pope Benedict XVI held his annual meeting with the clergy of his diocese of Rome, at the beginning of Lent, on Thursday. Reading and reflection on the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians was the starting point of the meeting. St Paul calls himself the prisoner in the Lord, in chains, and begs the Ephesians to walk worthily of the calling with which they were called, with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love; being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as they also were called in one hope of their calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all. But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. The Pope paraphrased this exhortation of St Paul to a divided Christian community, and applied it to the Priests in their own apostolic field. Priests have been called by their vocation, to deepen the calling received by all the faithful in Baptism. He stressed the importance of humility and gentleness in order to promote unity among all believers. Humility was the key to unity. St Paul in chains calls on us to share in the sufferings of Christ, in communion with all those who suffer. And as pastors, priests and prophets, they must lead their flock to the glory of resurrection through the passion and death of Christ, relived during this Holy Season of Lent.