Pope Leo Needs Priests


When Pope Leo spoke to a large group of current and future priests he projected the personality type he wanted to see in Catholic clergy. He wants to see joyful and happy-appearing clergy. If they are not happy he then wants them to share their feelings with their faithful. A reporter chose to contrast that message with Francis who often told clergy to tend tbeir flocks and not get too tied in knots over theology and internal church politics. 

The respective messages are not completely different but not quite the same. Francis' message was one of service to the faithful. Leo's is a message of self-image to future priests. Leo wants young men to see themselves as very likeable and the jovial center of attention in the parish. Perhaps that was his experience in parish life and he liked it. Francis' parish life probably was one of commiserating with some in his parishes who were poor and doing what he could for them. The two experiences were different.

Leo's effort has some urgency to it. The number of priests is falling. The average age is rising. While the number of priests in Africa is rising this probably is because being a priest in many African locations is a good economic opportunity.  

We can all understand demanding of young men a life without a partner and without the chance to become financially independent has to be offset by something big. Everyone makes a cost/benefit calculation. Time has taken a toll on devotion to large institutions, including the Catholic denomination. I would think the devotion to "serve God" and devotion to the large institution called the Catholic denomination are not exactly the same. 

The branches of Christianity that require advanced degrees and exclude women will have a hard time attracting enough young men to move into new markets and replace retiring clergy. Pope Leo has several headwinds and his is trying to navigate without a good compass.

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