Leo XIV offers challenging encouragement to seminarians and younger priests who often felt unappreciated and even attacked by his predecessor.
In the days leading up to the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the organizers of the current Holy Year arranged special jubilee celebrations for bishops, priests, and seminarians. Pope Leo also met with each of these groups to encourage them in their vocations. He even ordained a new group of presbyters on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The task of engaging these mostly young men who are part of, or preparing to be part of, the Church’s so-called “clerical workforce” is trickier and far more important than many Catholics might realize.
Leo, the Augustinian friar, inherited from his Jesuit predecessor a group of seminarians and a recent generation of priests who often felt demoralized and underappreciated by Pope Francis. The late pope could be particularly harsh on these young men, especially when he would mercilessly criticize those he saw as “clericalists.”
Francis was not wrong in condemning this “cancer” in the Church, as he called it. He regularly attacked these bad habits and attitudes he perceived among men who are called to “serve”—and not act as lords of—the People of God. But he often did so using language they were unable to hear—either because they were simply obstinate or, more likely, because they were not mature enough to accept his rebukes.
The Jesuit pope had a salty tongue. He often used anecdotes and phrases that, to some, smacked of a macho attitude. Many of the older priests who were ordained in the “heady days” around the time of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and Catholic laypeople of the same era easily related to and even delighted in the late pope’s “anti-clerical” language. But younger priests and the current seminarians were deeply offended and even wounded by it.
Truths too hard for sensitive souls
Francis was very firm with the clerics. But to his credit, he was never harder on anyone than he was on himself. Because of this, he probably felt justified in trying to set these young men straight by telling them the hard truths. Sometimes, however, such truths can be too difficult for more sensitive or delicate souls. In fact, they can lead to unwanted results.
At times, the late pope seemed to adopt the methods of a tough football coach who kicks his players in the rear to motivate them to work harder. Unfortunately, this approach only heightened insecurities in these young men, many of whom sought (and continue to seek) their identity as priests by embracing the symbols, signs, and attire of a more traditional, formal, and clerical culture of an earlier era in the Catholic Church.
Let us be absolutely clear: the Church needs ordained presbyters to provide the People of God with the Eucharist and other sacraments. And during this current jubilee celebration for them, many of us give thanks for the priests and bishops in our own lives who, despite their own flaws and fragility, have befriended us and helped us to deepen our faith and better serve our Church.
We desperately need priests who are happy and healthy (spiritually, psychologically, psycho-sexually, etc.) to continue building the Kingdom of God in our midst. One thing is certain: if there is a fractured relationship between the Bishop of Rome and clerics (especially those of a younger generation), this poses a real problem for the Church.
This presents Leo with a challenge and an opportunity. What we have seen and heard in his encounters with the bishops, priests, and seminarians in these past few days suggests that he is not only up to the challenge but is embracing it with gusto, tact, and uncanny sensitivity.
A new tone, rhythm, and style of language
These are still early weeks of the new pontificate, but Leo has already shown that he has no intention of reversing the pastoral priorities and vision of the Church that Pope Francis laid out during his 12 years in office.
On the contrary, the American missionary pope is moving forward, even if in a style that is much less disruptive and dramatic than that of Francis. Leo has made it clear that he wants to continue to make the Church a place that is open and inviting to all; one that is more missionary in its nature; one that advances the “fundamental option of the poor”; one that is intent on becoming even more synodal in its nature and methods; one whose ministers are expected to live a life of humility and poverty… These are all lines of action and attitude that Francis stressed over and over again.
From all that he has said and done since May 8, when he was elected to the See of Peter, the new pope has shown every sign that his pontificate will continue with essentially the same agenda. The only noticeable difference at this point—and it is a significant one—is the tone, rhythm, and style with which he does so.
This could be key in getting the clerics (and those currently preparing to join them) to willingly work with him in carrying out his pastoral priorities.
Francis largely failed in this task, especially in certain parts of the world. Although the ordained ministers are a tiny minority among the entire People of God, they play an indispensable part in “keeping the trains running,” as it were.
The Church relies heavily on the priests who oversee parishes and pastoral centers worldwide. And the vision and pastoral priorities put forth by the Bishop of Rome are likely to find fertile soil in those places where the clerics feel appreciated and encouraged by him.
Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. For example, the Jesuit pope’s synodality project was severely hampered because of his difficult relationship with the younger clergy. The Augustinian pope, who has made it clear that he fully subscribes to the same project, has an excellent opportunity to advance synodality by fostering a warmer relationship and engendering mutual trust with the younger ministers.
Helping adolescents become mature adults
One of the things that was very clear this past week during Leo’s interactions with the seminarians and young priests is that these young men are, in many ways, still adolescents. The new pope seems to understand this.
He observed how young people of their generation face new and different obstacles to becoming emotionally mature and self-disciplined men. Mirroring the thoughts of his predecessor but in a very different tone, he also warned them to beware of hypocrisy and the temptations of leading a double life.
He clearly understands that these seminarians (and even the young priests) are delicate and more receptive to words of compassion, understanding, and gentleness than to the kind of straightforward talk that often bruises fragile egos.
However, Leo has also shown that he will be just as firm as his predecessor – perhaps even firmer, if in a more systematic and orderly way.
There are positive signs that these younger and more traditional clerics will likely be open to him in a way they were not to Francis. They viewed the Jesuit pope as disrespectful of some of the Church’s long-standing clerical practices and protocols.
They delight in the fact that the Augustinian pope has reintroduced certain customs and Vatican “costumes” (even if only minor ones) that Francis shunned. Even though Leo has a kind and straightforward demeanor, he has not been afraid to use the full weight and formalities of his office.
It may seem silly, but the fact that he wears French cufflinks and a more stylized and classical pectoral cross brings much comfort and consolation to the younger clergy. If that’s what it takes to help move the ball, the disrupter pope set in motion further down the field, that is a very small price to pay.
With thanks to the Union of Catholic Asian (UCA) News and Robert Mickens, where this article originally appeared.
