POPE FRANCIS SENDS MISSIONARY MANDATE TO PARISH PRIESTS
This afternoon the Vatican released the following mandate sent by Pope Francis to the 300 parish priests from around the world who met the first days of May just outside Rome to discuss synodality and to meet with the Holy Father:
“I have something to ask you who have come here to represent the parish priests of the whole world: we need your help to continue listening to the voice of the parish priests in view of the Second Session of the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. This meeting was very important, but it is not enough: we must do more if we want to bring more people into the synodal dynamism great of priests. And this cannot be done only by the General Secretariat of the Synod and the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia that organized this meeting.
“This is why I ask you today to become missionaries of synodality with your brother parish priests, once you return home: animating the reflection on the renewal of the ministry of parish priests in key synodal and missionary issues, promoting moments of conversation in the Spirit between parish priests, in presence or online, taking advantage of the opportunity of some already organized meeting, or organizing one on purpose. And then I ask you to inform the Secretariat of the Synod of the fruits of these meetings, following the instructions that will be given to you. When you return home, talk about this idea with your bishops and with the Episcopal Conferences, and also tell them that it is a task given to you by the Pope.
“For my part, I wrote a letter to all the parish priests of the world to inform them of this initiative and to present you as missionaries of synodality among them.
“Now I’ll sign it and then there will be a copy delivered to each of you, so that you can spread it once you return home.
“Thank you for your collaboration. I will accompany you with my prayer and you too will not forget to pray for me. FRANCESCO “
Joan's Rome 