Pope Francis to priests: "Be shepherds with the smell of sheep"

Papa Francesco, to the priests of Luigi dei Francesi boarding school in Rome, he made a recommendation: “In community life, there is always the temptation to create small closed groups, to isolate oneself, to criticize and speak ill of others, to believe oneself superior, more intelligent. And this undermines us all! That's no good. May you always welcome one another as a gift".

“In a fraternity lived in truth, in the sincerity of relationships and in a life of prayer we can form a community in which you can breathe the air of joy and tenderness - the Pontiff said -. I encourage you to experience the precious moments of sharing and community prayer in an active and joyful participation ".

It's still: "I wish you to be shepherds with 'the smell of sheep', people capable of living, laughing and crying with your people, in a word of communicating with them ”.

“It worries me, when there are reflections, thoughts on the priesthood, as if it were a laboratory thing - said Francis -. One cannot reflect on the priest outside the holy people of God. The ministerial priesthood is a consequence of the baptismal priesthood of the holy faithful people of God. Do not forget this. If you think of a priesthood isolated from the people of God, that is not a Catholic priesthood, nor even a Christian one ”.

"Undress yourself, your preconceived ideasand, of your dreams of greatness, of your self-affirmation, to put God and people at the center of your daily concerns - he said again - to put God's faithful holy people: to be shepherds, shepherds. 'I would like to be an intellectual only, not a pastor'. But ask for the reduction to the lay state and it will do you better, right ?, and be an intellectual. But if you are a priest, be a shepherd. You are a shepherd in many ways, but always in the midst of the people of God ”.

The Pope also invited French priests “to always have great horizons, to dream of a Church that is wholly at the service, a more fraternal and supportive world. And for this, as protagonists, you have your contribution to offer. Do not be afraid to dare, to take risks, to move forward ”.

"Priestly joy it is the source of your acting as missionaries of your time. And with joy goes along with a sense of humor. A priest who has no sense of humor does not like it, something is wrong. Those great priests who laugh at others, at themselves and even at their own shadow… The sense of humor which is one of the characteristics of holiness, as I pointed out in the encyclical on holiness ”.