Holy See 'presides in charity,' Pope reminds future nuncios
June 25, 2015
Speaking on June 25 to future Vatican diplomats, Pope Francis said: “The true authority of the Church of Rome is the charity of Christ.”
The Pope reminded students at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, which trains clerics for work as papal nuncios, that their work would involve representing the Roman Pontiff, who “presides in charity” over the universal Church.
This charity, the Pope continued, is a force that unites the Church and preserves “her tenacious hope, invincible despite momentary defeats.” Charity, he said, is “the sole force that renders [the Church] universal and credible.”
Pope Francis cautioned the future Vatican diplomats: “You are not called to be the high functionaries of a state,” but should work as “guardians for a truth that supports those who offer it.” He warned them not to become involved in factional conflicts, or to “be colonized by the popular ideas of the day, or by the illusory hegemony of the ‘mainstream.’”
Encouraging the papal representatives to be bold in their proclamation of the Gospel, the Holy Father told them not to “fish in aquariums or in fish farms,” but to cast their nets more widely, exploring new territories for the faith.
Pope Francis offered a glimpse of his outlook on different parts of the world when he observed that the young clerics would eventually be sent to far-flung geographic locations:
To Europe, needing to be awakened; to Africa, thirsty for reconciliation; to Latin America starving for nourishment and interiority; to North America, intent upon rediscovering the roots of an identity that does not define itself in terms of exclusion; in Asia and Oceania, challenged by the capacity of fermenting in diaspora and dialogue with the vastness of ancestral culture.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Pope: True authority of Church of Rome is the love of Christ (Vatican Radio)
- To future Papal representatives: be custodians of truth, not state functionaries (VIS)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
