Priests must act as spiritual fathers, Pope says

June 26, 2013

Pope Francis spoke about the joys of fatherhood—including the spiritual fatherhood of priests—during his homily at a weekday Mass on June 26.

Commenting on the day’s reading from the Book of Genesis, recounting God’s promise to provide a son for Abraham, the Holy Father said that the desire for children is innate in all men. "When a man does not have this desire, something is missing in this man,” he said. “Something is wrong.”

Fatherhood, the Pope continued, entails the willingness to protect one’s children. “And this is a grace that we priests must ask for ourselves,” he said: “to be a father, to be a father.”

 

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Further information:

• Pope at Mass: The joy of fatherhood (Vatican Radio)