The world needs “competent and brave priests”, whose only “preoccupation” is that of “witnessing the Gospel effectively, in the middle of the men of our time”. It was said by Benedict XVI this morning, while he received the community of the Almo Collegio Capranica in the Clementina room. The Community was accompanied by Cardinal Camillo Ruini and the rector, Monsignor Ermenegildo Manicardi. “I hail you, dear young said the Pope who are preparing to carry out the sacerdotal ministry”. “To meet the expectations of modern society, and to contribute to the remarkable evangelical action involving all the Christians he added, we need competent and brave priests with no ambition and no fears, and convinced of the evangelical truth. Above all, you must take care to announce Christ, and in His name, you must be ready to bend down before human suffering, letting everybody experiment the comfort of God’s love and the warmth of the ecclesiastical family, to be given especially to the poor and to all the people in difficulty”. This involves went on the Holy Father both “human maturation” and “a diligent adhesion to the truth disclosed to us”, as well as “a serious commitment on the personal sanctification and on the exercise of virtues, of humbleness and charity, in particular. It is also necessary to foster communion with the various components of the people of God, for everybody has to mature one’s awareness to be part of the sole Body of Christ, each one being a member of the other”.
