Vatican City, Nov 26, 2018 / 10:14 am
In a meeting with seminarians Saturday, Pope Francis said it is necessary for priests to maintain an open and filial discussion with their bishop, since he is the unifying figure of the diocese.
"You cannot be a good priest without a filial dialogue with the bishop. This is something non-negotiable," the pope said in the Vatican's Consistory Hall.
"As someone likes to say, 'No, I am an employee of the Church.' You are wrong," he continued. "Here there is a bishop, there is not an assembly where the position is negotiated. There is a father who unifies: like Jesus wanted things. A father who unifies."
Pope Francis set aside his prepared speech during a Nov. 24 meeting with seminarians of the Diocese of Agrigento, in order to, he said, "speak a little spontaneously," on the relationship between a diocesan priest and his bishop.