Deacon: how is he different from a priest?

What is a deacon, what functions does he perform and how does he differ from a priest. We are going to explain it to you, and also answer some frequently asked questions: can they marry, do they celebrate Mass, are there different types? Read on to find out.

What is a deacon?

The word deacon comes from Greek diakonoswhich means "served" or "minister". In the Catholic Church, the diaconate is the first degree of the sacrament of Holy Orders, followed by the presbyterate (priests) and the episcopate (bishops). It is therefore an ordained minister, called to serve the people of God in the proclamation of the Word, the celebration of certain sacraments and charity.

The diaconate is not a modern invention. Already in the New Testament, specifically in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 6:1-6), it is narrated how the Apostles chose seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, to be in charge of assisting widows and other tasks of service. Among them was St. Stephen, the first martyr of the Church.

Sacerdote junto a un diácono y seminaristas de Bidasoa celebrando la Exposición al Santísimo

What functions does it perform?

Deacons are called primarily to service. Their threefold mission can be summarized in three areas: Word, Liturgy and Charity.

Service of the Word
They may proclaim the Gospel at Mass, preach the homily (if authorized by the presiding priest) and teach Christian doctrine. Many collaborate in catechetical formation, evangelization and accompaniment of Christian communities.

Service of the Liturgy
Although a deacon cannot consecrate the Eucharist, he can:

Assist the priest in the celebration of the Mass.
Administer the sacrament of Baptism.
Presiding at marriages (when there is no priest).
Presiding at funerals without Mass.
Expose the Blessed Sacrament for adoration and give the blessing with Him (although he may not perform the consecration or solemn blessing).

Charity Service
They are especially responsible for animating charity in their communities. They visit the sick, help the poor, accompany the marginalized, promote social works and collaborate with Caritas or other institutions. This charitable dimension is deeply linked to their apostolic roots.

Diacono vestido con el alba blanca con las manos en posición de rezar

What is the difference between the two?

Although both the deacon and the priest have received the sacrament of Holy Orders, their functions, liturgical capacities and place in the ecclesial hierarchy are different.

Appearance	Deacon	Priest
Degree of order	First degree of the sacred order	Second degree of the sacred order
Celebration of the Mass	May not consecrate or preside at the Eucharist.	Can celebrate Mass and consecrate the Eucharist
Confession and Anointing	Cannot administer these sacraments	Can administer Confession and Anointing of the Sick
Preaching	Can proclaim the Gospel and preach	Can preach on a regular basis
Life status	May be married, if permanent; celibate, if transitory	Always celibate in the Latin rite
Subsequent ordination	Can be ordered if transient	He has already received the priesthood, no higher ordination except episcopate.

Can they get married?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions. The answer depends on the type:

Permanent deacon: is one who has been ordained with the intention of remaining in that ministry, without aspiring to the priesthood. In this case:

Yes, you can be marriedbut must do so before being ordained.
If it is unmarried at the time of ordinationmust assume the commitment of celibacy.
If his wife dies after ordination, he cannot remarry (unless special dispensation is granted by the Pope).

Transitory Deacon: is a seminarian who has received the diaconate as a preliminary step to the priesthood. In this case:

Must observe celibacyas he is on his way to the priesthood.
His diaconate usually lasts a few months before he is ordained a priest.

In summary: a married deacon cannot be a priest (at least in the Latin rite), and a celibate seminarian cannot marry after being ordained deacon.

Sacerdote celebrando la Eucaristía — Celebrating Holy Mass in Tanzania.

Can they celebrate Holy Mass?

No. Although they participate in the Mass and have a visible liturgical role-for example, they proclaim the Gospel, elevate the chalice, give peace and communion, are unable to celebrate the Eucharist on their ownsince do not have the power to consecrate bread and wine. That power is reserved to priests and bishops.

Therefore, does not "celebrate Mass". in the strict sense. He can preside at liturgical celebrations without Eucharist, such as liturgies of the Word, funeral services, baptisms and marriages.

Why are they important in the Church?

They remind the entire Christian community that the fundamental vocation of the Church is service. They embody the example of Christ who "came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mt 20:28).

Especially in contexts where there is a shortage of priests, the presence of well-formed deacons is a great pastoral support. Moreover, their closeness to the concrete realities of the people - family, work, society - allows them to be effective bridges between the Church and the world.

Dos seminaristas vestidos con el alba de diácono preparados para asisitir en una celebración litúrgica

Your training and the role of the CARF Foundation

Both permanent and transitory need solid training in theology, spirituality and pastoral care. In the case of future priests, the transitional diaconate is a key stage that marks the end of their seminary preparation.

The CARF Foundation collaborates with their training at centers such as the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome and the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarre in Pamplona, among other institutions. Thanks to the benefactors, many seminarians from all over the world are able to prepare themselves adequately to exercise their ministry with fidelity, joy and dedication.

The diaconate is a precious ministry that enriches the life of the Church. They are not "half-priests," but ordained ministers with their own identity and mission: to serve the Word, the Liturgy and Charity. Some are on the way to the priesthood; others, like the permanent priests, are a living sign of Christ's service in the midst of the world.

From the CARF Foundation, we thank everyone for their generous dedication and encourage our benefactors to continue supporting the formation of vocations at all levels. Because a Church with well-formed servants is a Church that is more alive, holier and closer.

Bibliography

St. Joseph: a father's heart in Provence

Mount Bessillon belongs to the municipality of Cotignac, in Provence. This is where the June 7, 1660 the only apparition of St. Joseph that is recognized by the Church. It does not resemble other apparitions in which detailed messages are transmitted to a visionary. In fact, there is no message to convey.

The apparition of St. Joseph

The patriarch, alone has come to the aid of a thirsty young shepherd boyon a day very close to summer.

St. Joseph appears as a man of considerable stature who points out a huge rock to the shepherd and says: "I am Joseph, lift it up and you will drink". Gaspard gives him a look of disbelief, as he finds himself unable to lift it. But St. Joseph reiterates his order and the shepherd lifts it without too much effort.

He discovers a spring of fresh water below and drinks greedily, but when he looks up, he realizes he is alone. San JoseJesus' father, has barely broken the silence attributed to him in the Gospels.. Gaspard is the one who does not keep quiet and spreads the news around, so that sick people from all over come to the spring to be cured and relieved. Soon a provisional oratory was built on the site, and in 1663 the present chapel was inaugurated.

Current sanctuary of St. Joseph

The present shrine of St. Joseph was consecrated in 1663. On the feast of St. Joseph, from 1661 onwards, large crowds flocked to the saint's shrine.

Since then, the chapel has withstood all the ravages of time, including those of the French Revolution, even if it had to be abandoned for some years. The chapel was somewhat forgotten during the 19th century and a large part of the 20th century, even if it was abandoned for a few years. every March 19, a pilgrimage would gather the people of the surrounding area to.

Finally, in 1975, the Benedictines of the Medea monastery in Algeria settled there, and the architect Fernand Pouillon built a new monastery next to the remains of the 17th century buildings. The work harmonizes the ancient and the modern.

The influence of Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

Around the same time that this singular apparition of St. Joseph took place, France was consecrated to the holy patriarch by Louis XIV, at the request of his mother, Anne of Austria. Those were the times when the French Court stopped to listen to the sacred oratory of Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, one of the most influential personalities of the Church at that time.

We have sometimes been given a view of Bossuet more akin to that of a treatise writer constructing a political theory of the French monarchy, and his deep spirituality and his great knowledge of Sacred Scripture and the Church Fathers have been forgotten..

Bossuet's word, like that of other palace preachers, was a seed thrown to interlocutors who seemed to have their hearts too much turned towards the demands of power and external prestige. But it is not up to the preacher to reap the fruits; it is God who gathers the harvest in his own time.

san jose corazón de padre — Prominent French clergyman, preacher and intellectual. Jacques-Bénigne Lignel Bossuet (Dijon, September 27, 1627 - Paris, April 12, 1704).

Bossuet made to Anne of Austria two panegyrics on St. Joseph, both on March 19, 1659 and 1661. In the first, St. Joseph is presented as the custodian of Mary and Jesus, and at the same time the fact that he knew how to keep all his life the secret that God had entrusted to him is highlighted. In the second, Bossuet starts from the biblical quotation that the Lord has sought a man after his own heart. (1 Sam 13:13). He refers to David, Joseph's ancestor, and the preacher praises the simplicity, detachment and humility of the patriarch. He affirms that his faith surpasses that of Abraham, model of perfect faith, because he had to guard a God who was born and grew in weakness. José resembles the moldable clay to which the potter gives the definitive contours.

The paternity of St. Joseph

When these words were pronounced, Joseph was present in a village in Provence. He did not appear with power and majesty, he did not want to express that he had been too forgotten in 17 centuries of Church history.

On the contrary, St. Joseph's event was marked by discretion and service. He has cared for a young shepherd, as he cared for years for Jesus and Mary.. He has been a father once again. He reminds us that the paternity is always linked to service. This is the fatherhood that instills confidence, that which bases authority on guardianship and service, and not that of the father "lord of lives and property" of the past, which has contributed so much to the current discrediting of the father figure.

However, when the father is questioned or denied, fraternity becomes impossible. This is what happens in today's society, where the seed of individualism has grown. St. Joseph reminds us that the world needs fathers so that we all become brothers.

Antonio R. Rubio Plo, Degree in History and Law. Writer and international analyst @blogculturayfe / @arubioplo

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus 2025

On the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus we celebrate the liturgical solemnity of God's love: today is the feast of love, Pope Francis said a few years ago. And he adds "the Apostle John tells us what love is: not that we loved God, but that He loved us first. He waited for us with love. He is the first to love. St. John Paul II said that "this feast recalls the mystery of the Love that God harbors for men and women of all times".

When is the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus celebrated?

The whole month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, although its feast day is after the octave of Corpus Christi. This 2025 is celebrated on Friday, June 27.

During the feast, St. Josemaría invites us to meditate on the Love of God: "They are thoughts, affections, conversations that souls in love have always dedicated to Jesus. But to understand this language, to really know what the human heart and the Heart of Christ are, we need faith and humility.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

St. Josemaría emphasizes that as devotees we should keep in mind all the richness that is contained in these words: Sacred Heart of Jesus.

When we speak of human heart we do not refer only to feelings, we allude to the whole person who loves, who loves and treats others. A man is worth what his heart is worth, we can say.

The Bible speaks of the heart, referring to the person who, as Jesus Christ himself said, directs all of himself - soul and body - to what he considers to be his good. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (

In speaking of devotion to the Heart, St. Josemaría shows the certainty of God's love and the truth of his self-giving to us. In recommending devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, he recommends that we direct ourselves entirely-with all that we are: our soul, our feelings, our thoughts, our words and our actions, our labors and our joys-to the whole of Jesus.

This is what true devotion to the Heart of Jesus is all about: knowing God and knowing ourselves, and looking to Jesus and turning to Him, who encourages us, teaches us, guides us. There is no room for more superficiality in devotion than that of a man who, not being fully human, does not succeed in perceiving the reality of God incarnate. Without forgetting that the Sacred Heart of Mary is always at his side.

Representación del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús con halo de luz, mostrando el corazón ardiente en su pecho y las heridas de la crucifixión en sus manos, sobre fondo oscuro.

What is the significance of the Sacred Heart?

The image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus reminds us of the central core of our faith: how much God loves us with his Heart and how much we, therefore, must love him. Jesus loves us so much that he suffers when his immense love is not reciprocated.

Pope Francis tells us that the Sacred Heart of Jesus invites us to learn "from the Lord who has made himself food, so that each one can be even more available to others, serving all those in need, especially the poorest families".

May the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which we celebrate, help us to keep our hearts full of merciful love for all those who suffer. Therefore, let us ask for a heart:

GoodAble to sympathize with the sorrows of creatures, able to understand.
Who knows how to love, If we want to help others, we must love them, with a love that is understanding and dedication, affection and voluntary humility. As Jesus taught us: love of God and love of neighbor.
To seek GodLet him seek God: And Jesus, who has fostered our longings, comes out to meet us and says: if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. And in Him may we find rest and strength.

We can demonstrate our love by our works; this is precisely what devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is all about.

The peace of Christians

On this feast, we Christians must resolve to strive to do good. There is much to be done to ensure that our earthly coexistence is inspired by love.

Even so, the pain will not disappear. In the face of these sorrows, we Christians have an authentic response, a response that is definitive: Christ on the Cross, God who suffers and dies, God who gives us his Heart, who opened a lance for love of all.

Our Lord abhors injustice, and condemns the one who commits it. But, as he respects the freedom of each individual, he allows them to exist.

His Heart full of Love for mankind made Him take upon Himself, with the Cross, all these tortures: our suffering, our sadness, our anguish, our hunger and thirst for justice. To live in the Heart of Jesus is to unite ourselves closely to Christ; it is to become God's dwelling place.

"He who loves me will be loved by my Father, our Lord announced to us. And Christ and the Father, in the Holy Spirit, come to the soul and make their dwelling in it," St. Josemaría.

Men, their lives and their happiness are so valuable that the Son of God Himself gives Himself to redeem them, to cleanse us, to elevate us. Who will not love his heart so wounded? asked a contemplative soul. And he would go on asking: who will not return love for love, who will not embrace a heart so pure," St. Josemaría Escrivá added.

Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús en Roma

How did the feast come about? History of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

It was an explicit request of Jesus, who on June 16, 1675, appeared to her and showed his Heart to her. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. Jesus appeared to her on several occasions and told her how much He loved her and all men and how much it grieved His Heart that men were turning away from Him because of sin.

During these visits, Jesus asked St. Margaret to teach us to love Him more, to have devotion to Him, to pray and, above all, to behave well so that His Heart would no longer suffer from our sins.

Later, St. Margaret with her spiritual director would spread the messages of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1899, Pope Leo XIII published the encyclical Annum Sacrum on the consecration of the human race, which took place in the same year.

During his pontificate, St. John Paul II established that on this feast the World Day of Prayer for the sanctification of priests should also be celebrated. Many groups, movements, orders and religious congregations, since ancient times, have placed themselves under his protection.

Rome is home to the Basilica of the Sacro Cuore (Sacred Heart) built by St. John Bosco at the request of Pope Leo XIII and with donations from the faithful and devotees from various countries.

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Catholic Devotionals

How to pray to the Sacred Heart of Jesus? We can get a prayer card or a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and, before it, perform the family consecration to his Sacred Heart, in the following way:

Written by St. Mary of Alacoque:

"I, (say here your name), give and consecrate myself to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ, my person and my life, my prayers, sorrows and sufferings, so as not to want to serve myself from any part of my being, but to honor, love and glorify Him. It is my irrevocable will to be all of Him and to do everything for His love, renouncing wholeheartedly all that could displease Him.

I take you, therefore, O Sacred Heart, for the only object of my love, the protector of my life, the security of my salvation, the remedy for my frailty and my inconstancy, the repairer of all the defects of my life, and my asylum at the hour of my death.

Bibliography

It is Christ who passesSt. Josemaría Escrivá.
ConfessionsSt. Augustine.
Letter, October 5, 1986, to Fr. R. P. Kolvenbach, M. R. KolvenbachSt. John Paul II.
Opusdei.org
Vaticannews.va

The sweet water of the Holy Spirit

Meeting with Catholic faithful in Bahrain

In the introduction to your speechhas told them that "it is beautiful to belong to a Church formed by the history of diverse faces, which find harmony in the one face of Jesus.". Taking foot of the geography and culture of the country, has spoken to them about the water that irrigates and makes fruitful so many desert areas. A beautiful image of Christian life as the fruit of faith and the Holy Spirit:

"Our humanity emerges to the surface, emaciated by many frailties, fears, challenges to be faced, personal and social evils of various kinds; but in the depths of our soul, deep inside, in the depths of our heart, flows serenely and silently the sweet water of the Spirit, which waters our deserts, reinvigorates what threatens to dry up, washes away what degrades us, quenches our thirst for happiness.

And it always renews life. This is the living water of which Jesus speaks, this is the source of new life that he promises us: the gift of the Holy Spirit, the tender, loving and revitalizing presence of God in us."

Pope Francis.

Christians, responsible for the living water of the Holy Spirit

In a second moment, the Pope stops at a scene from the Gospel according to St. John. Jesus is in the temple in Jerusalem. The feast of Tabernacles is celebrated, in which the people bless God, thanking him for the gift of the land and the crops and remembering the Covenant. The most important rite of that feast was when the high priest took water from the pool of Siloam and poured it outside the walls of the city, in the midst of the jubilant songs of the people, to express that from Jerusalem would flow a great blessing for all peoples (cfr Ps 87, 7 and especially Ez 47, 1-12).

In this context Jesus, standing up, cries out: "Whoever thirsts, let him come to me and live, and out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (Jn 7:37-38). The evangelist says that he was referring to the Holy Spirit that the Christians would receive in Pentecost. And Francisco observes: "Jesus dies on the cross. At that moment, it is no longer from the temple of stones, but from the open side of Christ that the water of new life will flow, the life-giving water of the Holy Spirit, destined to regenerate all humanity, freeing it from sin and death".

Pope Francis' trip to the Muslim kingdom of Bahrain. Source VaticansNews.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit

From there, the Pope points out three great gifts that come with the grace of the Holy Spirit, and asks us to welcome and live: joy, unity and 'prophecy'.

Source of joy

First of all, the Holy Spirit is a source of joy. With it comes the certainty of never being alone, because he accompanies us, consoles us and sustains us in difficulties; he encourages us to achieve our greatest desires and opens us to wonder at the beauty of life. It is not a question," observes Peter's successor, "of a momentary emotion. It is even less about that kind of consumerist and individualistic joy present in some of today's cultural experiences.

On the contrary, the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit comes from knowing that, when we are united to God, even in the midst of our fatigues and 'dark nights', we can face everything, even pain, mourning and death.

And the best way to preserve and multiply that joy," says Francis, "is to give it. From the EucharistWe can and must spread this joy, especially among young people, families and vocations, with enthusiasm and creativity.

Unit source

Secondly, the Holy Spirit is the source of unity because it makes us children of God the Father (cf. Rom 8:15-16) and therefore brothers and sisters to one another. For this reason, selfishness, divisions and murmuring among us make no sense. The Holy Spirit - the Pope points out - inaugurates the one language of love, breaks down the barriers of mistrust and hatred, and creates spaces of welcome and dialogue.

It frees us from fear and gives us the courage to go out to meet others with the disarming power of mercy. The Spirit is capable of forging unity, not in uniformity but in harmony.amidst a great diversity of people, races and cultures.

And, Francisco stresses, "this is the strength of the Christian community, the first witness that we can give to the world (...) Let us live fraternity among ourselves (...), valuing the charisms of all"..

Source of 'prophecy

Finally, the Holy Spirit is the source of prophecy. In the history of salvation we find many prophets whom God calls, consecrates and sends as witnesses and interpreters of what He wants to say to the people. Often the words of the prophets are penetrating. Thus, Francis points out, they They "call by name the evil projects that nestle in people's hearts, call into crisis the false human and religious securities, and invite to conversion".

Well, all Christians have this prophetic vocation. Since the baptismThe Holy Spirit has made us prophets. "And as such we cannot pretend that we do not see the works of evil, stay in a quiet life so as not to get our hands dirty."

On the contrary -he adds- every Christian must sooner or later become involved in the problems of others, bear witness, bring the light of the Gospel message, to practice the beatitudes in everyday situations, which lead us to seek love, justice and peace, and to reject all forms of selfishness, violence and degradation.

And he gives the example of concern for prisoners and their needs. "For in the treatment of the least (cf. Mt 25:40) is found the measure of the dignity and hope of a society.".

In short, and this is Francis' message, Christians are called - also in a time when conflicts abound - to bring joy, to promote unity (beginning within the Church) and to get involved with things that are not going well in society. For all this we have the light and strength of grace that comes from the Holy Spirit.

As a fruit of Christ's self-giving, the Spirit makes us children of God and brothers and sisters among ourselves so that we may spread the message of the Gospel throughout the world, which is good news for all, while at the same time inviting us to work for the good of all.

Mr. Ramiro Pellitero IglesiasProfessor of Pastoral Theology at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarra.

Published in Church and new evangelization.

"Witnesses of mercy and hope": Teachings of Pope Francis

April 21 will go down in history as a date of profound significance for the Catholic Church. On that day, the world received the news of the death of Pope FrancisThe first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff, who strongly marked the course of the Church in the 21st century. In a coincidence that many have interpreted as providential, that same day saw the publication of a book titled "Witnesses of mercy and hope. The teachings of Pope Francis for the 21st century."written by Spanish theologian Ramiro Pellitero.

Published by St. Paul's, this volume offers a profound and systematic exposition of the thought of Pope Francis from a theological and pastoral perspective. It is a work intended for both specialists and the general public who wish to understand in depth the keys to a pontificate that has left an indelible mark on the recent history of the Church.

Download 1st chapter: Witnesses of mercy and hope. The teachings of Pope Francis for the 21st century.

A spiritual testament in life

The publication of this book on the same day of the pope's death has given the work an almost testamentary character. Although it was not written by the pontiff himself, Witnesses of mercy and hope rigorously reflects his great intuitions and priorities: a Church on the move, centered on mercy, committed to the poor and called to heal the wounds of the world.

Ramiro Pellitero, professor of Theology at the University of Navarra and author of multiple essays on ecclesiology, presents in this volume a clear, profound and well-documented synthesis of the magisterium of Pope Francis. Through its pages, readers will be able to explore the ideas that have animated the encyclicals, exhortations, speeches and gestures of the Argentine pontiff during his pontificate.

Prologue by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça

The work has a valuable prologue by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, who highlights the theological and pastoral value of the book. In his words, the Portuguese cardinal underlines that this volume "is not only a reading of Francis' thought, but an invitation to live it, to incarnate it in the daily commitment of believers with Christian hope".

Tolentino, recognized for his spiritual sensitivity and his ability to build bridges between faith and contemporary culture, also points out the timeliness of the publication, which coincides with the need to preserve and deepen the legacy of Pope Francis: "The teaching of Francis does not end with his earthly life; it lives on in every gesture of mercy, in every word of comfort, in every courageous decision of those who seek to renew the Church from the Gospel".

Montage made by ChatGPT of the book Witnesses of mercy and hope.

A reference work for our time

Structured in thematic chapters, Witnesses of mercy and hope addresses central issues of Francis' thought: mercy as the core of the Christian message, the role of the poor as evangelizing subjects, integral ecology as an expression of justice, ecclesial reform as a path of conversion, and synodality as a style of a Church that listens, discerns and walks together.

The author places special emphasis on the pastoral character of Pope Francis: a style of government that favors encounter, closeness and tenderness. Far from proposing an abstract or academic theology, Francis has wanted to speak to the heart of people, especially those who suffer. The book faithfully captures this dimension, showing how Francis exercised his Petrine ministry in a profoundly evangelical spirit.

A providential tribute

The coincidence between the publication of the book and the death of Pope Francis has been received with emotion by many sectors of the Church. Not a few see in it a providential homage: a written summary of his legacy that reaches the world just as the Pope is returning to the Father's house. The very title of the book - Witnesses of mercy and hope - perfectly sums up the spirit of Francis and the message he leaves to humanity.

Now available in religious bookstores and digital platformsThis book is an indispensable reading for those who wish to deepen their understanding of the spiritual richness of Francis' pontificate and continue to make his legacy bear fruit in the Christian communities of the world.

A legacy that continues

The death of Pope Francis marks the end of an era, but not the end of his influence. His thought, his gestures and his example will continue to illuminate the path of millions of believers. Books such as Ramiro Pellitero's help to preserve and transmit this legacy, and offer tools to live the Gospel today with audacity, compassion and hope.

With this publication, the Church not only looks back with gratitude, but prepares to move forward, inspired by one of the most significant pontificates of our era.

Leo XIV: two priests from Peru speak about him

Father Erick Vílchez is a Peruvian who personally knew the Pope Leo XIV. When he was a seminarian and was training to be a priest, he attended the episcopal ordination of Robert Francis Prevost as master of ceremonies. He belongs to the territorial prelature of Chota, suffragan of the archdiocese of Piura.

"I have known Pope Leo XIV since he was Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo. As those who know him have stated, I always saw him as a very close person, with a great capacity for dialogue, who knows how to listen, smiling and very obedient. He has a lot of strength. But above all I would emphasize his deep love for the Church."emphasizes Don Erick.

But what he remembers most fondly was the day he participated as master of ceremonies in the episcopal ordination of Leo XIV on December 12, 2014.

Erick's first encounter with the Pope Leo XIV The first time I spoke with Monsignor Robert, when he had just arrived in Chiclayo, I introduced myself and told him: "Monsignor, we are in charge of the liturgy, we are here to serve". I remember that with his simplicity and with a smile he answered me: "Well, just in case, I am very obedient. So let's prepare in the best way". There, I saw that closeness, his simplicity of that then Monsignor Robert, now Holy Father", declared Erick.

An agreement with the University of Navarra

Don Erick was formed and studied at the seminary of St. Toribio de Mogrovejo in Chiclayo (Peru) when Monsignor Robert Francis Prevost Martinez was bishop of the diocese. He was ordained in 2019 at the age of 26. He is currently studying for a Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology at the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarra.

The seminar has a agreement with the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarra for the affiliation of the theological quadrennium of the seminary. This agreement was endorsed by a decree of the Congregation for Catholic Education on seminaries and institutes of study, which is renewed every five years.

On May 8 last year, the company was awarded the baccalaureate exam of four seminarians of Santo Toribio with the visit of the Prof. Félix María Arocenaof the University of Navarra.

In a prison in Chiclayo

Erick also recalls that he met Bishop Prevost in a prison in Chiclayo to assist prisoners and celebrate the sacraments in prison. "In some conversations I had with him, he insisted that we must be formed with a missionary mentalityWe need to value the sense of mission, starting with our own, with those closest to us," he points out.

This Peruvian priest is hopeful that the new Pope Leo XIV, who has dual American and Peruvian nationality, will encourage many young Peruvians to consider returning to the Catholic Church and others to join the Catholic Church. deepen their vocationwhether to become a priest, for religious consecration or as a lay person, celibate or in a vocational marriage commitment.

I am very excited!

"The Pope is always the Pope, but we are very happy to have a Peruvian Pope, I feel very excited," exclaims Erick.

Don Christian, Canon Law student in Navarra, Spain

Christian Munayco Peves is another Peruvian priest, a native of Cañete, who has just finished his degree in Canon Law at the University of Navarra. He belongs to the diocese of Ayacucho in the highlands of the Peruvian Andes. He completed his philosophical-theological studies at the San Martin de Porres Major Seminary in Lima and concluded them at the Juan XXIII Higher Institute of Theological Studies.

He was ordained a priest on the feast of St. Josemaría Escrivá, June 26, 2021. Christian tells how he met Leo XIVMy archbishop was twice elected president of the bishops' conference. That meant that I was constantly coming to the bishops' conference to meet and discuss matters. In the corridors of the conference I remember meeting the man who is now the Holy Father. We exchanged a cordial greeting, but not beyond that. Of those few experiences, I can say that he is an affable, friendly person, of few words, but above all extremely simple and close".

The missionary spirit of Leo XIV

For him, Pope Leo XIV has been a shepherd in constant communion and communication with his faithful, and his visit to Peru only recognizes that God can be followed and served outside our own lands, with a missionary spirit of service, abnegation and personal oblivion.

He also says that, among his fellow Peruvians, knowing that the Pope knows his territory very well, "we appreciate it with great courage, his stance of always confronting with the truth, realities and circumstances that have demanded his defense and listening, on issues concerning social order, charity and justice".

The Pope and the youth

For this priest, who comes from a deeply Catholic family that guided him on the path of his vocation, the election of a Peruvian Pope will stir the conscience of the young people of Peru to consider their vocation: "Undoubtedly, this election is a living and effective testimony that one can be happy in the midst of the world, serving and working in God's enterprise, saving souls.

The environment in which Pope Leo worked-both as an Augustinian religious and as a bishop- was always in the midst of young people, the same people who, since their election, have been called to rethink with greater interest their closeness to the Church and the parish, to reconsider that, in parallel to the life and professional work that each one of them carries out, one can be a saint, with that patent restlessness of knowing that many times God asks for more, because he knows more, and because he wants more from those he loves", he affirms.

"Do not be afraid!"

For him, the first words of the Holy Father on Sunday in the Regina Coeli to young people: Do not be afraid, accept Christ's invitation! We refer with special affection to the words of St. John Paul II, also at the beginning of his pontificate.

"Therefore, it is a message of hope.We cannot be afraid to experience a life that, for purely human reasons, tends to go against the designs and proposals of love and forgiveness outlined by Jesus.

Faced with this dissonance, God counts on us to be co-redeemersto carry with him the cross of human logic, which often tries to diminish the value and validity of his message. Therefore, the message of "not being afraid" invites us to bet on the truth, even though its defense entails the offensive of suffering, exclusion, or injustice, but behind it opens a huge door to heaven," Christian explains.

Testimony of priestly life

This young priest believes that today, to care for vocations in general, and in Peru in particular, the answer is: with a true witness of priestly life. "For this reason, I cannot fail to thank the Spanish missionary priests who, leaving their homelands, promoted priestly vocations in my parish. They were faithful witnesses and credible models that opting for the priesthood was a decision that led to happiness".

For Don Christian, the papal election has been very joyful news for all Peruvians.It has not only awakened overflowing and gratifying emotions, but has also given us back our enthusiasm for the things of God, and that important spiritual sense of identification and belonging to our local Church".

Pope speaks of unity

He is also struck, with a deep sense of hope, by the fact that the Pope has spoken of unityThe Church, in the midst of a world divided by hatred, political calculations, wars of arms, but also by wars of a spiritual nature that try to divide the Church, is a world divided by hatred, political calculations, wars of arms, but also by wars of a spiritual nature that try to divide the Church.

"We trust that, assisted by the Holy Spirit, and united to our prayers, the Church will go in the right direction, because it has a good shepherd whose goal is to ensure that each of his sheep not only walk in the good fold, but above all that they do not get lost. I want to take this opportunity to thank the CARF Foundation for allowing many of us priests to be trained to serve with better academic means the people that God entrusts to us", concludes Christian Munayco Peves.

Marta Santínjournalist specializing in religion.