“Priesthood is essential for the Church in the interest of the lay as well”. This was repeated by the Pope, as he met the French bishops in Lourdes yesterday. “Priests are God’s gift for the Church", explained Benedict XVI, and "they cannot delegate their functions to the devotees, as far as their own tasks are concerned”. Hence the need to "promote and welcome priestly and religious callings”, encouraging "all the families, all the parishes, all the Christian communities and all the church movements”. “In the school of the curate of Ars, the patron of all the parish priests in the world", the Pontiff warned to the prelates to "take care" of the "human, intellectual and spiritual education" of the priests, "especially those who are in distress, old or sick”. “No one is unnecessary in the Church”, went on the Pope with reference to the recent “Motu proprio” Summorum Pontificum, providing the liturgical opportunity to use both John XXIII’s and Paul VI’s Missals”. In the Church, said Benedict XVI, “anyone, with no exceptions, must be able to feel ‘at home’ and never cast aside”. “Let’s strive to be always the servants of unity", invited the Pope, according to whom "fundamental importance" is to be attached to the catechesis, which "first and foremost is not a matter of method but a matter of content”. (continued)
