Pope Leo XVI urges Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy priests to serve with humility and faith, praising their missionary dedication.
Newsroom, June 20, 2025, Gaudium Press – Pope Leo XVI welcomed a group of priests from the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy on Friday, praising their dedication during a year of missionary service and urging them to embody humility, closeness, and Gospel witness in their priesthood, wherever the Church calls them to serve.
“I welcome you with joy and extend my heartfelt greeting to each of you,” the Pope said, acknowledging Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, President of the Academy, and the Prefect of Studies for their work in forming priests prepared to serve the universal Church.
The Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy trains young ecclesiastics for the Holy See’s diplomatic service through specialized studies following an ecclesiastical degree. Pope Leo XVI highlighted the missionary year, now a cornerstone of the Academy’s formation, as a “crowning experience” that grounds priests in pastoral engagement before they undertake diplomatic or other roles.
Rooted in Service
Reflecting on a recent meeting with other students in Vatican diplomacy, the Pope emphasized the formation model introduced earlier by Pope Francis. “I encouraged them to be and remain ‘shepherds with their feet on the ground’,” he said, referencing his predecessors 2020 Chirograph Il ministero petrino, which envisions priests serving the Pope with humility and practicality.
The Pope underscored that the care of the universal Church, entrusted to the Successor of Peter, relies on the “faithful and irreplaceable service” of priests, whether in diplomatic posts or pastoral missions. “I urge you to live the gift of your priesthood with humility and meekness, with the ability to listen and remain close to others,” he said, calling them to be “faithful and tireless disciples of Christ the Good Shepherd.”
Gratitude for Dedication
Pope Leo XVI expressed gratitude for the priests’ “docility and dedication” in diverse and often challenging settings during their missionary year. “Whatever the task entrusted to you, and wherever in the world you may be sent,” he concluded, “the Pope must be able to count on priests who, through prayer and action, bring his closeness to peoples and Churches with their witness.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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