At an audience with participants of a conference sponsored by the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy marking the fiftieth anniversary of the Vatican II decrees on the Ministry and Life of Priests and on Priestly Training, Pope Francis spoke off the cuff on preparation for priestly ministry.<\/p>\n
The pope said that one must think twice when a young man \u201cis too confident, rigid, and fundamentalist,\u201d for \u201cthere are mentally ill boys who seek strong structures that can protect them.\u201d He also said that \u201cit is not normal for a priest to be often sad, nervous, or of a hard character; it is not good, and does no good, neither for the priest nor for his people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA good priest is first of all a man with his own humanity, who knows his own history \u2013 with its treasures and wounds \u2013 and has learned to make peace with it, gaining a profound serenity, characteristic of a disciple of the Lord,\u201d Francis said. \u201cHuman formation is therefore needed for priests, so they may learn not to be dominated by their limits, but rather to put their talents to use.<\/p>\n
Francis also reminded bishops that the decree on residence is still in force: \u201cIf you don\u2019t feel like staying in your diocese you should resign,\u201d Francis said, referring to bishops who travel too much and are not close enough to their flock.<\/p>\n