Careerism harms Church, Pope tells future Vatican diplomats
June 06, 2013
Pope Francis warned future Vatican diplomats against the danger of careerism in a June 6 address to students at the Pontifical Ecclesial Academy, the institution that trains priests for the Vatican diplomatic service.
The Pope encouraged students to “live these years of your preparation with commitment, generosity, and greatness of soul.” With that training, he said, they would find the personal freedom necessary for their work.
That freedom, the Pope continued, “means being free from personal projects.” It also means being free from one’s own cultural background—“not not to forget it and even less to deny it, but to open yourselves, in charity, to understanding diverse cultures.”
“Above all,” the Pope said, “it means being vigilant in order to be free from personal ambitions or aims, which can cause so much harm to the Church.” He challenged the young priests to cultivate “a self-detachment that can only be achieved through an intense spiritual journey.”
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