The Church of Mercy by Pope Francis Page A

referring to
stability
, which has two precise aspects: “staying” in the diocese and staying in “this” diocese, as I said, without seeking change or promotion. As pastors it is impossible to know your flock really well—walking in front of it, in its midst and behind it, caring for it with your teaching, with the administration of the sacraments and with the testimony of your life—unless you remain in your diocese. In this, the Council of Trent is very up to date: residence. Ours is a time in which we can travel and move from one place to another easily, a time when communications are rapid, the epoch of the Internet. However, the old law of residence is not out of fashion! It is necessary for good pastoral government (directory,
Apostolorum successores
, no. 161). Of course, concern for other Churches and for the universal Church can take you from your diocese, but let it be only for the time that is strictly necessary and not a regular practice. You see, residence is not only required for the purpose of good organization, it is not a functional element; it has a theological root! You are bridegrooms of your communities, deeply bound to them! I ask you, please remain among your people. Stay, stay . . . Steer clear of the scandal of being “airport bishops”! Be welcoming pastors, journeying on with your people, with affection, with mercy, treating them with gentleness and fatherly firmness, with humility and discretion. And may you also be able to see your own limitations and have a large dose of good humor. This is a grace we bishops must ask for. We must all ask for this grace: Lord, give me a sense of humor. Finding the way to laugh at oneself first is part of it. And stay with your flock!

23
Priests Who Come to Serve
----
Homily, 21 April 2013
    It is true that God has made his entire holy people a royal priesthood in Christ. Nevertheless, our great Priest himself, Jesus Christ, chose certain disciples to carry out publicly in his name, and on behalf of humankind, a priestly office in the Church. For Christ was sent by the Father, and he in turn sent the apostles into the world, so that through them and their successors, the bishops, he might continue to exercise his office of Teacher, Priest, and Shepherd.
    Indeed, priests are established coworkers of the Order of Bishops, with whom they are joined in the priestly office and with whom they are called to the service of the people of God.
    After mature deliberation and prayer, these, our brothers, are now to be ordained to the priesthood in the order of the presbyterate so as to serve Christ the Teacher, Priest, and Shepherd, by whose ministry his body, that is, the Church, is built and grows into the people of God, a holy temple.
    In being configured to Christ, the eternal High Priest, and joined to the priesthood of the bishops, they will be consecrated as true priests of the New Testament, to preach the Gospel, to shepherd God’s people, and to celebrate the sacred Liturgy, especially the Lord’s sacrifice.
    Now, my dear brothers and sons, you are to be raised to the Order of the Priesthood. For your part you will exercise the sacred duty of teaching in the name of Christ the Teacher. Impart to everyone the word of God that you have received with joy. Remember your mothers, your grandmothers, your catechists, who gave you the word of God, the faith . . . the gift of faith! They transmitted to you this gift of faith. Meditating on the law of the Lord, see that you believe what you read, that you teach what you believe, and that you practice what you teach. Remember too that the word of God is not your property: it is the word of God. And the Church is the custodian of the word of God.
    ----

    Let what you teach be nourishment for the people of God.
----
    In this way, let what you teach be nourishment for the people of God. Let the holiness of your lives be a delightful fragrance to Christ’s faithful, so that by word and example you may build up