” “"The priest’s mission is irreplaceable, and, even if in some regions the number of priests is very low, we must not doubt God will keep calling young and older people to give everything up and devote themselves to preaching the Gospel and to the pastoral ministry". These are hopeful words about the future of the Church, which were uttered yesterday morning by Benedict XVI to the pilgrims, before saying the Regina Caeli prayer. Yesterday, the Church celebrated the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, and the Pope prayed with the pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square so that "the seeds of vocation that God sows in the hearts of the faithful may become ripe and bear fruits of holiness within the Church and in the world". Finally, the Pope also mentioned "the vocation to consecrated life, which is expressed he said by a poor, chaste and obedient life all consecrated to God, contemplation and prayer and put at the service of one’s brothers, especially the humble and the poor". His meditation also made reference to the family. "Christian marriage too said the Pope is legitimately a call to sanctity, and the example of one’s holy parents is a prerequisite to boost the flourishing of priestly and religious vocations".” “
