Vatican City, May 12, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Meeting this morning at St. John Lateran Basilica with members of the clergy of the Diocese of Rome, Pope Benedict XVI stressed a priestly formation, which is ‘rooted in Christ’, obedient to one’s Bishop, and which devotes consistent time to prayer.
After greeting staff and visiting the pontifical apartments this morning, Pope Benedict delivered his address to members of his diocese.
He said that "the extraordinary experience of faith that we experienced with the death of our much-loved Pope John Paul II, has shown us a Roman Church profoundly united, full of life and rich in enthusiasm; all this is the fruit of your prayers and your apostolate."
He also highlighted the need "to always go back to the roots of our priestly calling," in other words, "Jesus Christ, the Lord," and pointed out that as priests "we are charged not to say many words, but rather to echo and to be bearers of a single 'Word,' that is the Word of God, made flesh for our salvation.”