“Let us pray today for the joy of priests,” Pope Francis urged in his homily for the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday (April 17), inviting the faithful to support their priests as they continue to serve amid trials and renewal.
Though the pope was not present to preside at the liturgy due to health reasons, his message—read by Cardinal Domenico Calcagno at St. Peter’s Basilica—struck a deeply pastoral and reflective tone.
Addressing a basilica filled with priests from across the Diocese of Rome, Pope Francis spoke of the Jubilee Year 2025 as a fresh invitation to conversion and rediscovery of their vocation.
“For us priests, the Jubilee year thus represents a specific summons to a new beginning on our path of conversion,” the pope wrote.
He acknowledged the complexity of each priest’s journey, noting that within every story lies a seed of grace, a “jubilee”—a sacred time when God brings healing and hope.
The Holy Father encouraged clergy to embrace this new beginning not as a burden, but as a grace-filled opportunity to walk closer to God and the people they serve.
Calling priests “heralds of hope,” Pope Francis challenged them to abandon any trace of clericalism and embrace the joy that springs from humble, loving service.
“The shepherd who loves his people does not seek consensus and approval at any cost,” he said, “but remains faithful in love, which is what truly changes hearts.”
The pope reflected tenderly on the unique relationship priests have with the Word of God, describing the Bible as their “first home.”
He recalled how certain Scripture passages become deeply personal, even foundational, to a priest’s identity—especially the one that first awakened his vocation.
“Whenever we read this page, God still calls us, if only we cherish it and do not allow our love to grow cold,” he wrote.
Pope Francis reminded his brother priests that the Holy Spirit remains the unseen force sustaining their ministry. “The people feel His breath,” he wrote, “when our words become a reality in our lives.”
He reassured them that the work they do is ultimately God’s , not their own, and therefore need not be a source of discouragement.
“Believe that God did not make a mistake with me. God never makes mistakes,” he said.
As the Church enters the most sacred days of the liturgical year, Pope Francis offered a message of encouragement not only for priests but for all the faithful.
The Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ, he reminded, is the very foundation of the Church and every priestly ministry.
In this context, the Pope invited all people of faith to pray for their priests—not only that they remain faithful but that they rediscover the deep joy of their calling.
Pope Francis closed his homily with a pastoral appeal rooted in hope: “May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.”
As the Church looks to the Jubilee, this call echoes not only as encouragement but as a promise—that joy, when rooted in Christ, will endure.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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