Santiago, Chile, Jan 16, 2018 / 14:52 pm
Pope Francis reminded the Chilean bishops of the importance of living out their priestly fatherhood united in mission with their people in his final address on Tuesday, the first full day of his apostolic trip to Chile and Peru.
"Stay close to your priests, like Saint Joseph, with a fatherhood that helps them to grow and to develop the charisms that the Holy Spirit has wished to pour out," the Pope said Jan. 16 in the sacristy of the Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral.
He began his address by greeting Archbishop Bernardino Piñera Carvallo, who at 102 is the oldest bishop in the world. He is Archbishop Emeritus of La Serena and has been retired since 1990. Piñera was ordained a priest in 1947. He was consecrated a bishop in 1958, and attended the Second Vatican Council. The Pope called him a "marvellous living memory."
In his address, Pope Francis stressed the importance of unity, especially at a time when secular individualism leaves many feeling isolated and alone: "One of the problems facing our societies today is the sense of being orphaned, the feeling of not belonging to anyone. This 'post-modern' feeling can seep into us and into our clergy. We begin to think that we belong to no one; we forget that we are part of God's holy and faithful people."