Vatican City: Pope Francis said that priesthood is not a job and that priests should be close to people. Addressing seminary students from different countries studying in Rome and priests in higher education, Pope Paul VI reiterated the reminder that priests should have the ‘smell of sheep’.
‘Relationship with God’s people is important in pastoral care. You can be a good theorist, a good theologian, a good philosopher if you lose the scent of sheep and distance yourself from them. But you will lose the ability to recognize the ‘smell of impurity’, the Pope said, even if he is a priest serving in the Curia and should maintain intimacy with the people of God.
During the meeting, there was an opportunity to ask the Pope questions. In part, the Pope’s words were in response to a question raised by a young priest. The Pope then exhorted the four intimacies that priests must maintain: ‘Intimacy with God through prayer; intimacy with the bishop; Intimacy with other priests; Intimacy with God’s people. You cannot be a good priest if you are not close to God’s people.’
About priests living the priesthood as a job
While speaking, the Pope reminded us that the priesthood is not a service to be done at regular intervals. Exhorting that the priesthood is a sacred service to God, the Pope also advised priests who pursue careers to attain higher positions to turn away from it. ‘Those who aim at the ascent are traitors, and they are never ministers.’ The Pope also warned of the dangers of the Internet, such as digital ‘pornography’.