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FAITH AND RELIGION

In priesthood lies true essence of Christianity — Pope Francis

Pope Francis receives Argentine Priestly College of Rome delegation. (Photo from the Vatican News)

1/18/25, 9:29 AM

By Tracy Cabrera

VATICAN PALACE, Rome — Just a day before Tondo, Manila celebrates the Feast of the Santo Nino, Pope Francis lauded the Filipino clergy for their unwavering faith to God's Son Jesus Christ, even as he described Filipino priests as true followers of the Church.

The Pope cited that priesthood is a gift to be given for others, stressing that
"one's vocation is the love that God has for each person 'and in this lies . . . true essence' (of being a Christian)."

Pope Francis issued these commentaries while he received a delegation from the Argentine Priestly College of Rome.

"A priestly vocation is not merely a path toward salvation for the one who is called but should be a continuous self-gift that aligns each priest's life with God's plans for them," the pontiff, leader to more than 1.39 billion Catholics, clarified.

Pope Francis shared his thoughts with the group about St. José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero, a 19th-century Argentine priest he canonized in 2016 and about whom his friends said, "He should not have existed if not as a priest."

The saint, known as the 'Cura Brochero', was renowned for his pastoral work, especially among the poor and marginalized in rural areas of Argentina.

"We must firmly assume this priestly identity, and realize that our vocation is not an appendix, a means to other ends, even pious ones, such as salvation; absolutely not," Francis pointed out.

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