ROME — ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV doubled down on Friday on his appeal for unity in the polarized Catholic Church, urging monks to behave in communion with their superiors and be fashions of reconciliation in a world pushed by conflicts and divisions.
Leo appealed for unity in a triptych of messages to monks who’re celebrating a special Holy Year week in Rome devoted to clergy. He hosted a particular assembly on Thursday afternoon, celebrated an ordination Mass on Friday morning and in addition delivered a written message to monks world wide.
Through the Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo ordained 32 new monks and recalled his enchantment for unity throughout his set up Mass proper after his Might 8 election.
“At the moment, I share this want as soon as extra with all of you,” he mentioned. He quoted St. Augustine – the inspiration of his Augustinian non secular order – in repeating the phrases he mentioned on the night time of his election: “For you I’m a bishop, with you I’m a Christian.”
Through the conferences that preceded the conclave that elected the primary American pope in historical past, cardinals made clear their hope that the following pontiff would heal a few of the divisions inside the church that deepened throughout the late Pope Francis’ radical 12-year preach.
Francis’ progressive social justice priorities, his casual fashion, liturgical looseness and disdain for the capitalist financial system usually alienated conservatives, particularly in Leo’s native United States, who begged for a brand new pope who may pacify divisions.
Leo’s constant reference to unity within the church suggests he has heard these appeals and is working to reply.
In a message to monks world wide Friday, Leo provided encouragement in his enchantment for unity, not a browbeating as Francis usually gave monks.
“In a world marked by rising tensions, even inside households and ecclesial communities, monks are referred to as to advertise reconciliation and foster communion,” Leo mentioned. He added that monks shouldn’t be afraid of their very own weaknesses. “The Lord doesn’t search for excellent monks, however for humble hearts which might be open to conversion and ready to like others as he himself liked us,” he mentioned.
He gave an identical message Thursday to 1000’s of monks who gathered in a Vatican-area auditorium for a Jubilee rally that ended with Leo giving English-language shoutouts to monks from varied elements of the world, together with his native Chicago.
Within the encounter, Leo acknowledged the “disaster” in priestly vocations, which have been falling persistently in historically Christian elements of the world for years at the same time as the general world Catholic inhabitants grows.
In response to Vatican statistics, there have been 407,730 monks globally on the finish of 2022, down 142 from the earlier yr. Europe noticed the best decline, dropping 2,745 monks — a determine that was solely compensated for globally by the addition of 1,676 monks in Africa and 1,160 in Asia.
“Thanks for who you might be, and remind everybody that it’s lovely to be a priest,” he mentioned. “We aren’t excellent, however we’re mates of Christ … and that’s sufficient.”
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