{"id":229504,"date":"2026-05-07T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/?p=229504"},"modified":"2026-05-07T15:38:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T13:38:29","slug":"sacerdotes-en-crisis-papa-leon-xiv-invita-rezar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/en\/sacerdotes-en-crisis-papa-leon-xiv-invita-rezar\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Leo XIV prays for priests in crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the beginning of Easter, the <strong>Pope Leo XIV<\/strong> announced its prayer intention for the month of April, dedicated to priests in crisis, opening a space for reflection on the need to care for them, listen to them and accompany them.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network - with the support of <strong>campaign <a href=\"https:\/\/www.popesprayer.va\/es\/rezaconelpapa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pray with the Pope<\/a><\/strong>- the Holy Father invited the faithful and people of good will to pause for a moment in prayer, to recognize and deepen their awareness that behind every ministry there is a life that also needs closeness and listening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his prayer, the Holy Father addressed a profound plea for priests who are going through difficult times: <strong>\u00abwhen loneliness weighs heavy, doubts darken the heart and weariness seems stronger than hope\u00bb.<\/strong> Pope Leo XIV recalled that priests \u00abare neither officials nor solitary heroes, but beloved sons, humble and beloved disciples, and shepherds sustained by the prayers of their people\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Furthermore, Pope Leo XIV stressed the importance of rediscovering the communitarian dimension of the priestly ministry. In particular, he invited the faithful to \u00ablisten without judging, <strong>thank without demanding perfection<\/strong> and accompany with closeness and sincere prayer,\u00bb recognizing that the care of priests is a responsibility shared by the entire People of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his prayer, the Pope asked especially that priests may be able to count on \u00abhealthy friendships, networks of fraternal support\u00bb and the grace to rediscover the beauty of their vocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sostener-fraternalmente-a-quienes-sostienen\">Pope Leo XIV asks to support those who sustain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The international director of the Pope's World Prayer Network, Father Cristobal Fones, noted that this prayer intention was particularly close to his heart: \u00abThe Pope reminds us that we need to <strong>fraternally support those who support.<\/strong> I myself feel it very closely, for so many of my fellow priests and friends who are going through difficult times. It is essential to remember the importance of human accompaniment, of sincere friendship and, above all, of prayerful support. Priests need to know that they are not alone\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pray with the Pope: For Priests in Crisis - April 2026\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3cJxa7o-C1w?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the light of the recent magisterium of the Church - from the Second Vatican Council to the teachings of recent popes - it is emphasized that the priest is a fragile man in need of mercy, closeness and understanding.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For this reason, it is insisted that they should not face moments of discouragement alone, but allow themselves to be accompanied and sustained by the community. The priestly fraternity, the shared life and prayer of the people of God thus appear as essential sources of grace, capable of renewing their vocation and sustaining them in their daily mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"no-teman-a-su-fragilidad-el-senor-no-busca-sacerdotes-perfectos\"><strong>\u00abDo not fear your frailty: the Lord does not seek perfect priests.\u00bb<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A synodal Church is also one that cares for and sustains the vocation of priests, helping them to be better pastors, better brothers, better people. Pope Francis, in The Pope's Video of July 2018, already showed his concern for his brother priests, beginning his speech with, \u00abthe weariness of priests... Do you know how often I think about that?\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On June 27, 2025, Pope Leo XIV himself, on the occasion of the Day of Priestly Sanctification, addressed priests with the words: \u00abdo not be afraid of your fragility: the Lord does not seek perfect priests, but humble hearts, available to conversion and ready to love as he himself has loved us\u00bb.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leo XIV himself, on June 26, 2025, also appealed to the participants in the international meeting <em>Happy priests-I call them friends<\/em> (Jn 15:15), promoted by the Dicastery for the Clergy during the Jubilee of Priests, said to them: \u00abin the heart of the Holy Year, together we want to bear witness that it is possible to be happy priests, because <strong>Christ has called us; Christ has made us his friends. <\/strong>(cf. Jn 15:15); it is a grace that we want to welcome with gratitude and responsibility\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Pope's World Network of Prayer emphasizes that this intention is not only an invitation to pray, but also to act: to promote spaces for listening, to foster welcoming communities, to avoid destructive criticism, and to strengthen bonds as a community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"la-vocacion-sacerdotal\">Priests in crisis and the mystery of vocation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The call to the vocation of the priesthood asks the man who receives it to dedicate his life to helping his brothers and sisters live closer to God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"headline-40-169955\"><strong>What is a priestly vocation?<\/strong> Vocation is a mystery of love between God, who calls man with love, and a man who responds to him freely and out of love. However, the <a href=\"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/sacerdocio\/vocacion-sacerdotal\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/sacerdocio\/vocacion-sacerdotal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vocation to the priesthood<\/a> is not simply a feeling. Rather, it is an inner certainty born of God's grace, which touches the soul and calls for a free response.<br><br>If God calls, the certainty will grow as the response becomes more generous. The call to the priesthood asks the man who receives it to dedicate his life to helping his brothers and sisters live closer to God. He has been called to perform a humble service on behalf of all humanity in the name and on behalf of Christ himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When he is ordained a priest, he receives the Sacrament of Holy Orders and is prepared to lend his body and spirit, that is, his whole being, to the Lord. He will make use of it especially in those moments in which he performs the Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ and when, in the name of God, in sacramental Confession, he forgives sins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How do I know if I have a vocation to the priesthood?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">God calls everyone and some with a specific mission, designed personally for them: \u00abeach one on his own way\u00bb, says the Second Vatican Council with its universal call to holiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each believer must discern his own path, make the decision to follow it and bring out the best, that which is so personal that God has placed in him, and not allow him to wear himself out by trying to imitate something else that was not intended for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tool we Christians have to discover our vocation, whether it is marriage, priesthood or apostolic celibacy, is prayer. Prayer is absolutely necessary for the life of the soul. This dialogue with God allows the spirit to develop. \u00abIf you say enough, you are lost,\u00bb St. Augustine reminds us. Take note.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prayer for vocational discernment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In prayer, faith in the presence of God and his love is actualized. It fosters the hope that leads us to direct our lives towards him and to trust in his providence. And the heart is enlarged by responding with one's own love to divine Love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our example is Jesus, who prays before the decisive moments of his mission. With his prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray, to discover the will of our Father God and to identify ourselves with it. Moreover, as the Catechism recommends, at the moment of vocational discernment, the figure of a spiritual director can be of great help, that is, a person to whom we can entrust ourselves and who helps us to discover the will of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"WITNESSES | Priest Stories\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AI3Ibzei3_A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Vocational signs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The duty to awaken vocations is incumbent upon the entire Christian community. At the CARF Foundation we support this commitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the formation of a priestly vocation, one can take into account some general aspects or traits that help discern whether a man is being called by God to the priesthood. Canon Law describes some details. Point 257 states: \u00abthe formation of students should be carried out in such a way that they feel concerned not only for the particular Church in whose service they are incardinated, but also for the universal Church, and are ready to dedicate themselves to those particular Churches which are in grave need\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Love for the Church, the Eucharist, our Blessed Mother Mary, frequent Confession, the Liturgy of the Hours, are the clear signs of the call to the priesthood. The taste for the things of God, can come suddenly as a magnificent discovery from an encounter with Christ, or having felt it all our lives since we were little, instilled by our family. You, pray for vocations!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#sostener-fraternalmente-a-quienes-sostienen\">Pope Leo XIV asks to support those who sustain<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#la-vocacion-sacerdotal\">Priests in crisis and the mystery of vocation<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Pope's prayer intention for the month of April 2026 focused on the human and spiritual accompaniment of priests in times of difficulty. The international director of the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, Father Cristobal Fones, noted that this prayer intention was particularly close to his heart: \u00abThe Pope reminds us that we must fraternally support those who support us\u00bb.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":229636,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[7,262,206],"class_list":["post-229504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-oracion","tag-papa-leon-xiv","tag-sacerdotes"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229504","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=229504"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229504\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":229798,"href":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229504\/revisions\/229798"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/229636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=229504"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=229504"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=229504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}