While meditating on yesterday’s Gospel, Benedict XVI resumed the three statements of Jesus about the good shepherd and pointed at them as the ways to be followed by the young priests. The first one is that "the shepherd gives his life for his sheep". "Life commented the Pope is not given only upon dying and not only through the ways of martyrdom. We must give it every single day". "It’s just in this, in being useful, that our life becomes important and beautiful". Then, the shepherd "knows" his sheep. "Obviously said Benedict XVI Jesus’ words also enclose all of the practical pastoral task, of taking care of men, visiting them, being open to their needs and to their questions". But the priest "cannot be content with just knowing their names and the dates. His knowledge must always mean ‘knowing with the heart’ as well". Finally, the "service of unity". "The Church recalled the Pope is given responsibility for all mankind", so that a priest "cannot comfortably withdraw into the boundaries of his own setting", but is called to get out "into the streets" to bring God "also to those men who so far have heard nothing about Him or have not been touched by Him inside".
