Pope addresses seminarians, discusses belonging, relationships, exclusion

December 12, 2016

Pope Francis spoke extemporaneously with seminarians from the Pius XI Pontifical Regional Seminary of Puglia in a December 10 audience at the Apostolic Palace.

In his prepared remarks, published by the Holy See Press Office, the Pope emphasized the importance of belonging: being “part of Christ, of the Church, and of the Kingdom.”

“The first obstacle to overcome is therefore narcissism,” he wrote. “Not everything starts and finishes with me, I can and I must look beyond myself, so as to be aware of the beauty and the depth of the mystery that surrounds me, of the life that exceeds me, of the faith in God that supports everything and every person, including myself.”

Discussing the importance of relationships and of countering exclusion, the Pope added:

Do not feel that you are different from your peers; do not consider yourselves better than other young people; learn to be with all people, and do not be afraid to get your hands dirty … Begin from your communal life in the seminary: is there someone who is excluded? Who is left at the margins? Your belonging to Christ demands that you go towards him, that you bring him to the center, that you help him too feel part of the community.

 

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Further information:

• The Pope to seminarians: the identity of the presbytery is rooted in belonging to the Lord, Church and Kingdom, 10.12.2016 (Holy See Press Office)