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Pope Leo XIV told thousands of seminarians in a June 24 meditation that they should share with the world the gentle and compassionate Heart of Christ through love and service.
In the meditation offered during the Jubilee of Seminarians, the Pope also advised them on how to grow their spiritual and interior life and encouraged them not to shy away from the wounds within their own hearts. About 4,000 seminarians attended the meditation in St. Peter’s Basilica, according to Vatican News.
Seminarians “fuel the flame of hope in the life of the Church,” Pope Leo said. He told them that along with being pilgrims, they are “witnesses of hope” to everyone because they have allowed themselves to be “drawn into the fascinating adventure of the priestly vocation in a time that is not easy.”
“You have accepted the call to become meek and yet strong bringers of the Word that saves, servants of a Church that is open and a Church that goes out on mission,” he told them.
Christ is calling each of them to be in friendship with Him and other seminarians on the journey discerning the priesthood, the Pope said.
This friendship is meant to continue growing even after ordination, “and which involves all aspects of life,” he continued. “There is nothing of yourselves, in fact, that should be discarded, but everything must be taken up and transfigured in the logic of the grain of wheat, to become people and priests who are happy, ‘bridges’ and not obstacles to the encounter with Christ for all those who approach you. Yes, He must grow and we must diminish, so that we can be shepherds according to His Heart.”
Pope Leo encouraged them to reflect on the Heart of Jesus, emphasizing that in today’s “social and cultural context marked by conflict and by narcissism, we need to learn to love and to do so as Jesus did.”
“Just as Christ loved with the heart of man,” he said, “you are called to love with the Heart of Christ.”
Interior growth is crucial for learning how to do this. He noted that going deep into one’s heart may be frightening because of the wounds within, but he encouraged the seminarians: “Don’t be afraid to take care of them, to allow yourself to be helped, because it’s precisely from those wounds that the ability to be close to those who suffer will be born.”
Having an interior life is crucial in developing spiritually and becoming attuned to listening to God speaking in one’s heart, he noted.
“Part of this interior work is also trying to learn to recognize the movements of the heart: not only the rapid and immediate emotions that characterize the souls of young people, but above all your sentiments, which help you to discover the direction of your life,” Pope Leo said. “If you learn to know your own hearts, you will become more and more authentic and you will have no need to put on masks.”
Praying in silence and solitude, where one can encounter Christ, is how one grows interiorly, Pope Leo said.
He encouraged them to frequently call on the Holy Spirit so as to grow in docility and ability to recognize God’s presence.
Art, literature, music, and human sciences are also ways to grow in this ability, he said. Along with theological study, they should also learn more about cultures, social studies and the challenges of artificial intelligence, he said.
“Above all, as Jesus did, learn how to listen to the often silent cry of the little ones,” Pope Leo said, “of the poor and of the oppressed, and of so many people, especially young people, who are searching for meaning in their lives.”
“If you take care of your heart, with daily moments of silence, meditation, prayer, you will be able to learn the art of discernment,” he added, noting that young hearts bear many hopes, ambitions, and desires and can often be crowded.
“Dear friends, have a meek and humble heart like that of Jesus,” he said. He encouraged them also to be intentional about growing in maturity while in seminary, and to bring “everything into a relationship with God,” including sadness, fear, and suffering, noting that weaknesses and other difficulties “are occasions of grace.”
The seminarians must also witness to the world the joy, tenderness, mercy of Jesus’ heart, through service, generosity, and selflessness, he said. This dedication must animate their priesthood.
Pope Leo expressed hope that the seminarians will grow deeper in dialogue with Jesus and in closeness to “the sentiments of His Heart.”
That Heart, he said, “beats with love for you and for all of humanity.”
