He also told priests that they are a man of God 24 hours a day, not only when wearing vestments, and that the liturgy is life for them, not just a ritual. "This is why it is fundamental to pray to the One we talk about, to nourish ourselves with the Word that we preach, to adore the Bread we consecrate, and do it every day," he said.
"It demonstrates that the Church is a sacrament of salvation," he said, "that is, a sign that indicates and an instrument that offers salvation to the world."
Following his encounter with priests and religious at the cathedral, Pope Francis met with the young people of Palermo and the surrounding areas.
Asked a question about how to know God's will for one's life, he said it cannot be found by looking in a mirror or staying locked in one's room, but "in relationship."
God speaks "in the journey and in relationship with others. Do not close yourselves, confide in Him, entrust everything to Him, seek Him in prayer, seek Him in dialogue with others, seek Him always on the move, look for Him on the way," he said.
"This is important: Jesus believes in you more than you believe in yourselves. Jesus loves you more than you love yourself. Seek him out of yourself, on the way: He awaits you."
Doing this, you will hear the Lord's invitation, he said. "Pray with your words: with what comes from your heart. It is the most beautiful prayer."
At the end of the meeting, noting the probable presence of non-Catholics in the crowd, the pope forwent giving his usual apostolic blessing, instead saying an off-the-cuff prayer for blessing on all those present. "May the Lord God accompany all these young people on the journey and bless everyone," he prayed.
Hannah Brockhaus is Catholic News Agency's senior Rome correspondent. She grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and has a degree in English from Truman State University in Missouri.