Pope to Filipino bishops in Rome: Remind clergy of celibacy, obedience

Pope Benedict XVI urged Philippine bishops visiting Rome to remind Filipino priests about their vows of celibacy and obedience. “Remind your priests of their commitment to celibacy, obedience, and an ever greater dedication to pastoral service," the Pope told the bishops, according to a report on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site on Friday. “In living out their promises, these men will become true spiritual fathers with a personal and psychological maturity that will grow to mirror the paternity of God," he added. The Pope issued this instruction on Thursday to the second batch of Philippine bishops who were on their "ad limina" visit in Rome. The bishops included prelates from Mindanao and Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles. He also asked the bishops to give priority to the formation of budding priests and to guide them to spiritual maturity. Paternal duty The Pope said bishops have a paternal duty towards their clergy and should guide them with sincere concern. He lauded the formation programs of many dioceses to help young clergy adjust to an independent life outside the seminary. “Along these lines, it is also helpful for them to be assigned mentors from among those older priests who have proven themselves to be faithful servants of the Lord," he said. “These men can guide their younger confrères along the path toward a mature and well-balanced way of priestly living," he added. Continuous care The Pope said “priests of all ages" need continuous care in all aspects of their priestly life. He encouraged priests to have “regular days of recollection, yearly retreats, and convocations, and continuing education. He also urged the bishops to look after the well-being of their priests assigned to isolated areas. The Pope noted how the Second National Congress for the Clergy held during the Year for Priests “became an occasion for renewal and fraternal support" among the clergy. He likewise encouraged the prelates to benefit from the annual celebration of Holy Thursday, “during which the Church commemorates the priesthood in a special way." – VVP, GMA News