Speaking on the functions of the various members of the Church, Pope Benedict XVI recently took the opportunity to explain how “the particular identity of priests and laity must be seen in the light of the essential difference between priestly ministry and the ‘common priesthood’”, and that “hence it is important to avoid the secularisation of clergy and the ‘clericalisation’ of the laity”.

Addressing Brazilian Bishops at the end of their ad limina visit to him (17 September), the Holy Father said that, in this perspective, the lay faithful must undertake to give expression in real life, also through political commitment, to the Christian view of anthropology and the social doctrine of the Church, “while priests must distance themselves from politics in order to favour the unity and communion of all the faithful, thus becoming a point of reference for everyone”.

Benedict XVI indicated that “the lack of priests does not justify a more active and abundant participation of the laity.” He said the truth is that the greater the faithfuls’ awareness of their own responsibilities within the Church, the clearer becomes the specific identity and inimitable role of the priest as pastor of the entire community, witness to the authenticity of the faith, and dispenser of the mysteries of salvation in the name of Christ the Head.

The function of the clergy is essential and irreplaceable in announcing the Word and celebrating the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist. “For this reason it is vital to ask the Lord to send workers for His harvest; and it is necessary that priests express joy in their faithfulness to their identity”.

The Pope made it clear that “the shortage of priests must not come to be considered as a normal or typical state of affairs for the future”. In this context he encouraged prelates “to combine efforts to encourage new priestly vocations and find the pastors your dioceses need, helping one another so that all of you have better-trained and more numerous priests to support the life of faith and the apostolic mission”.

Referring then to the 150th anniversary of the death of the “Cure of Ars”, which the Church is currently commemorating with the Year for Priests, Benedict XVI indicated that St John Mary Vianney “continues even now to be a model for priests, especially in living a life of celibacy as a requirement for the total giving of self, expressed through that pastoral charity which Vatican Council II presents as the unifying centre of a priest’s being and actions”.

Dignity and wisdom

The Holy Father’s pronouncement on priests and laity coincided with the publication of a letter to priests (16 September) by Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy, insisting that the proclamation of the word of God is an undeniable task that priests must carry out with dignity and wisdom, to show Christ to others.

Archbishop Piacenza stated that responsibility for the “service of the Word” cannot simply be for some priests who are particularly sensitive to this aspect of the Sacred Ministry. Rather, it is a characteristic that belongs indispensably to the Presbyteral Ministry.

“The dignity in question belongs to the object of the proclamation, namely Jesus Christ the Saviour. A Priest does not proclaim himself or his own ideas, or his personal and subjective interpretations of the one Eternal Word. We are called to acknowledge the supreme dignity of Him of whom we are the bearers, and as a consequence to fulfil such a service in a worthy manner,” stated Archbishop Piacenza.

He added: “Along with the dignity of such a service, the sacred Liturgy also indicates “wisdom” as one of its characteristics. This presupposes the prudence and the capacity of tending to look at reality according to the totality of its elements, not making any human point of view an absolute, but referring everything to the One Absolute who is God. Wise preaching takes account of the concrete needs of those whom one addresses, never imposing arbitrary and insufficient interpretations, but always favouring the one thing necessary: a real encounter with God for the brothers and sisters entrusted to our care.

“Wisdom, is able to distinguish between circumstances, times and fashions; it is humble and does not raise the preacher above Him who must be preached, neither does it vaunt him above the Church, which, for two thousand years, has kept the Gospel living. Finally, fulfilling the ‘ministry of the Word’ wisely means being attentively conscious of the work of God in every proclamation; it is He who prepares hearts; it is He who encounters people; it is He who makes the buds of conversion flower, and makes the fruit of Charity ripen. The only ‘relativism’ allowed is towards oneself: as preachers we must be completely ‘in relation to God!’”

In this way, states Archbishop Piacenza, priests will discover the effectiveness and the beauty of the Ministry entrusted to them by announcing the Word. They will point towards that intimate companionship of the Lord, who loves and gives with joy and who never leaves his servant alone. They will also contemplate with emotion the fruits which God shall allow and will also make known his closeness in the moment of the Cross.

Catholics in the media

Meanwhile, the Director of the Holy See Press Office called Catholic media professionals to proclaim the Gospel.

Speaking on the occasion of the Day of Social Communications held in Fatima, Portugal (18 September), Fr Federico Lombardi S.J, the Vatican spokesman said that Catholics in the media should above all “be believers and Christians. We want the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be known and understood through the testimony of the Church. If this does not happen, we are wasting our time.”

Fr Lombardi added that Catholics in the media are not people who spread political propaganda, nor are they defenders of special interests or mere journalism professionals. Today there are many possibilities for the Church to use the media “in the service of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” he continued.

After noting that there are journalists of all stripes in today’s media and that they should not be all automatically seen as sinister or ill-intentioned, Father Lombardi underscored that it is important to help guide them in the right direction, “so they may be able to provide good information, as long as they are willing to do so.”

Father Lombardi said the Church’s Magisterium is a crucial reference point for Catholics in the media, and he urged them to always use “clear, simple and understandable language that is not abstract or complicated or technical.” “Always speaking the truth is the fundamental premise for confronting even the most difficult situations,” he said.