Cardinal Calls for Priests without Pretentions or Demands

This was declared by Cardinal Beniamino Stella, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, at the International Assembly of the Apostolic Union of the Clergy organized in Rome from November 13-17, 2017.

In his sermon reported by L’Osservatore Romano on November 15, 2017, Cardinal Stella meditated upon the expression “unprofitable servants” used by Christ in speaking to His apostles:

So you also, when you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do

(Lk. 17:10).

“True authority is not exercising our influence over others, shining, centralizing power in our own hands,” insisted the prelate. Rather, “it is making ourselves the servants of all men, zealous for the Faith....compassionate instruments of mercy and love for the wounds of each man.”

Cardinal Stella went on to add that priests are called to be “servants ‘without a use’, that is, who do not seek to serve their own personal interests, do not do things for appearances or seek out privileged positions.” They commit themselves “with zeal, without pretentions or demands”.

Priests, he concluded, must leave behind “the temptation to presumption and individualism”. They must also “learn the art of working together”.