Pope Leo XIV urges unity in Catholic Church during Holy Year

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    ROME — On Friday, Pope Leo XIV reinforced his call for unity within the divided Catholic Church, encouraging priests to work in harmony with their leaders and serve as exemplars of reconciliation in a world fraught with conflict and division.

    During a week in Rome dedicated to clergy, Leo made his appeal for unity through a series of messages directed at priests. He convened a special gathering on Thursday afternoon, presided over an ordination Mass on Friday morning, and issued a written address to priests worldwide.

    At the Mass held in St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo ordained 32 new priests and echoed his call for unity, reminiscent of the message he delivered at his installation Mass following his election on May 8. “Today, I express this desire once again with all of you,” he stated. He cited St. Augustine, the influential figure of his Augustinian order, reiterating the words he shared on the eve of his election: “For you, I am a bishop, with you I am a Christian.”

    Leading up to the conclave that saw the election of the first American pope, cardinals expressed their hopes that the new leader would mend some of the rifts within the church that had widened during Pope Francis’ dynamic 12-year tenure. Francis’ emphasis on progressive social justice, his informal approach, relaxed liturgical practices, and criticism of capitalism sometimes estranged conservative members, especially in Leo’s home nation, the United States, who sought a pope capable of bridging divides.

    Leo’s repeated emphasis on church unity signals he has heard these concerns and is actively seeking to address them. In his message to priests globally on Friday, he offered encouragement in his call for unity, contrasting with the more direct admonishments Francis often issued. “In a world increasingly marked by division, even within families and church communities, priests have a call to promote reconciliation and foster unity,” Leo expressed. He assured priests that their flaws are not a deterrent, stating, “The Lord seeks not perfect priests, but those with humble hearts open to transformation and love, as he loved us.”

    A similar message was conveyed to thousands of priests gathered in a nearby Vatican auditorium during a Jubilee rally on Thursday, where Leo acknowledged the “vocation crisis” – a decline in priestly vocations in historically Christian regions, despite the growing global Catholic population. Vatican data highlighted a global total of 407,730 priests at the end of 2022, a slight decline of 142 from the previous year. Europe experienced the most significant decrease, with 2,745 fewer priests, balanced globally by increases in Africa and Asia, each adding 1,676 and 1,160 priests, respectively.

    “Thank you for your dedicated service, and remind everyone of the beauty in being a priest,” he addressed. “We are not flawless, but we are friends of Christ… and that is sufficient.”