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Priests must help people find truth in God, pope says at audience
06-08-2009
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- In a very brief general audience, Pope Benedict XVI said the church needs holy priests who can help the faithful understand that truth exists and, ultimately, is found in God. The audience, with an estimated 4,000 people packed into the courtyard at the papal summer villa in Castel Gandolfo, lasted a mere 15 minutes.
The pope's main talk lasted only five minutes, although the Vatican published the much longer text the pope had prepared for the audience.
Pope Benedict's remarks focused on St. John Vianney, the patron of parish priests, who died Aug. 4, 1859.
The pope invoked a special Year for Priests to mark the 150th anniversary of the French priest's death.
At first glance, "the pastoral methods of St. John Vianney could appear little suited to current social and cultural conditions. In fact, how could a priest today, in a world that has changed so much, imitate him?" the pope asked.
The saint's example is a reminder that "the priest must have an intimate personal union with Christ to cultivate and deepen day after day. Only in this way can he touch the hearts of the people and open them to the merciful love of the Lord," he said.
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20090805.htm
