The Face of Mercy / Daniel Conway

Pope Francis offers gratitude, encouragement to all priests

“The Holy Father’s letter to all priests is a most welcome gift, coming, as it does, at a particularly difficult time for the Church. Amid the pain, ugliness and anger, it is possible for the Church, and especially those who are priests, to fall into despair—the opposite of hope. Instead, the Holy Father reminds us that we must never lose sight of those ‘luminous moments when we experienced the Lord’s call to devote our lives to his service.’ That sort of memory recalls the many moments of gratitude and encouragement offered to us from the Lord and from others. While working to protect all of God’s people, especially the innocent and vulnerable, from the evil of the abuse of power, we should not become blind to how the joy and hope of Christ ‘are constantly born anew.’ Speaking as a priest and bishop in the United States, I thank the Holy Father for his wonderful letter to us.” (Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, N.J.)

Writing in August on the 160th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney, “the holy Curé of Ars and the patron of parish priests throughout the world,” Pope Francis acknowledges the pain experienced by priests today. He also offers words of encouragement and thanks in the manner of “an older brother and a father who reassures them in these difficult times, encouraging and supporting them along the way.”

The vast majority of priests serving throughout the world today are good and holy men. They have “left all behind,” the pope says, and responded to Christ’s call to follow him and to share in his ministry “in the trenches, bearing the burden of the day and heat, confronting an endless variety of situations in [their] effort to care for and accompany God’s people.”

Pope Francis uses the occasion of St. John Vianney’s feast day to express his appreciation to all priests “who, often without fanfare and at personal cost, amid weariness, infirmity and sorrow, carry out your mission of service to God and to [their] people.

“Some time ago,” Pope Francis writes, “I shared with the Italian bishops my worry that, in more than a few places, our priests feel themselves attacked and blamed for crimes they did not commit.”

Without in any way forgetting “the cry, often silent and suppressed, of our brothers and sisters who were victims of the abuse of power, the abuse of conscience and sexual abuse on the part of ordained ministers,” the Holy Father seeks to reassure priests that he is aware that the pain felt by the entire people of God “has also affected priests.”

“Many have shared with me their outrage at what happened and their frustration that for all their hard work, they have to face the damage that was done, the suspicion and uncertainty to which it has given rise, and the doubts, fears and disheartenment felt by more than a few. I have received many letters from priests expressing those feelings,” the pope writes. “At the same time, I am comforted by my meetings with pastors who recognize and share the pain and suffering of the victims and of the people of God, and I have tried to find words and actions capable of inspiring hope.”

Words of gratitude, encouragement and praise for all priests represent Pope Francis’ efforts to inspire hope among his brothers. “Gratitude is always a powerful weapon,” the pope writes. “Only if we are able to contemplate and feel genuine gratitude for all those ways we have experienced God’s love, generosity, solidarity and trust, as well as his forgiveness, patience forbearance and compassion, will we allow the Spirit to grant us the freshness that can renew [and not simply patch up] our life and mission.”

In addition to saying thanks to his brother priests, Pope Francis seeks to encourage them. “Faced with painful experiences, all of us need to be comforted and encouraged.”

Without ever denying or diminishing the reality of pain and sorrow, Pope Francis invites his brothers to experience once again lasting joy. “Despite our frailties and sins,” the Holy Father says, “with a tenderness which never disappoints, but is always capable of restoring our joy, God makes it possible for us to lift up our hearts and start anew.”

Finally, Pope Francis calls attention to Mary, the mother of Jesus and our mother. “She, the woman whose heart was pierced, teaches us the praise capable of lifting our gaze to the future and restoring hope to the present.”

May the Lord bless all priests. May the Holy Virgin watch over them, comforting and encouraging them in their daily lives and ministries.
 

(Daniel Conway is a member of The Criterion’s editorial committee.) †