VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXIV - # 87   
   DATE 13-05-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - THE POPE'S "OPEN-HEARTED" CONVERSATION WITH THE PONTIFICAL COLLEGES   
   - TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL MARCO CE   
   - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS   
      
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    THE POPE'S "OPEN-HEARTED" CONVERSATION WITH THE PONTIFICAL COLLEGES   
    Vatican City, 13 May 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon in the Paul VI Hall the   
   Holy Father received in audience the rectors and alumni of the Pontifical   
   colleges and residences of Rome. Some of the priests and seminarians, who are   
   from all over the world and study in Rome, posed questions to the Pope who   
   answered spontaneously, without a prepared text, with an "open heart". A   
   dialogue made up of more than ten questions, addressing themes such as the   
   priesthood, temptations, and challenges of consecrated life. Before he began,   
   the Pope addressed a special message of closeness to the Christians of Ukraine   
   and the Middle East, emphasising that the Church still suffers greatly today,   
   in many parts of the world, as a result of persecution.   
    The Holy Father spoke about the danger of "academicism", or rather the risk   
   that seminarians return to their dioceses simply as graduates rather than   
   fathers, as priests, in response to a question from an American seminarian. He   
   mentioned the four pillars of the formation of priests, which must be   
   cultivated so as not to fall into the trap of "academicism": spiritual,   
   academic, communitarian and apostolic formation. A seminarian from China asked   
   about community life, to which Pope Francis responded that it is impossible to   
   prepare oneself for the priesthood alone; it must take place within a   
   community, taking great care to overcome the capital sins that may arise in   
   relations with one's brethren. "Never, ever speak about others behind their   
   backs!" he said. "If I have something against someone, or I do not agree with   
   them, I tell them directly. ... Gossip is the scourge of a community; one must   
   always speak with someone face to face, and pray for those with whom there are   
   problems".   
    Similarly, he advised them to be patient, to study hard and to make the most   
   of all the opportunities offered them during their stay outside their   
   countries of origin. He also urged them to seek calm through prayer and, in   
   turbulent moments, to take refuge under the mantle of the Mother of God.   
   "Because a good relationship with the Mother helps us to stay in good   
   relations with the Church". The Pope added that there is only one path to   
   leadership in priestly life: service. "Service means doing the will of others,   
   over and over again. Reject the path of money or vanity and be a servant,   
   armed with humility".   
    A seminarian from Cameroon asked how the various dimensions of the ministry   
   can co-exist in a balanced way, to which Pope Francis responded that it was   
   necessary to be vigilant, careful and organised. "The ideal is to end the day   
   tired. ... But with a good tiredness, not a reckless tiredness, that is   
   harmful to your health over time". In response to another question on how one   
   should be a priest in view of the new evangelisation, the Pope commented that   
   it is important to reach out of oneself, and to be close to the people. "A   
   cordial closeness, a closeness of love, but also a physical closeness". He   
   added that the closeness of a pastor to his people can be measured by the   
   paying attention to his homilies. He admitted that "in general, our homilies   
   are not good - they are conferences or lessons", and he emphasised that boring   
   homilies on abstract subjects resemble school. "We are behind in this   
   respect", he admitted; "it is one of the points of conversion that the Church   
   needs today: to improve homilies so that people can understand better".   
    Finally, the Pope responded to a Polish seminarian who asked his advice on   
   how to remain willing and happy in service to the people of God. Francis   
   commented on the great importance of meeting with people, with the bishop and   
   with other priests, but without fear. "Perhaps you have some inner   
   reservations, but you must never be afraid", and he added that "one of the   
   treasures that you must cultivate is priestly friendship". Before taking his   
   leave, the Pope encouraged the to be "friends to all those whom the Lord   
   places before you". "Priestly friendship is the strength of perseverance,   
   apostolic joy, courage, and also humour".   
      
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    TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL MARCO CE   
    Vatican City, 13 May 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has sent a telegram of   
   condolence to Bishop Francesco Moraglia, patriarch of Venice, for the death   
   yesterday of Cardinal Marco Ce, patriarch emeritus of Venice, Italy, at the   
   age of 88.   
    The Pope expresses his closeness and prayer "for the entire diocesan   
   community, the family of the deceased cardinal, and all those who knew him",   
   and recalls "his tireless work in the dioceses of Crema and Bologna, and in   
   Catholic Action". He remarks that this "gentle and wise pastor of the Church   
   in Venice" offered "generous service to the Word of God through the preaching   
   of days of spirituality for the clergy and for the young" and his "great   
   efforts to bring about an authentic liturgical spirit".   
      
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    OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS   
    Vatican City, 13 May 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Fr. Petros   
   Stefanou as bishop of Syros, Milos, Santorini, (area 633, population 31,600,   
   Catholics 6,785, priests 11, religious 14) Greece, and apostolic administrator   
   "ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of Candia, Crete. The bishop-elect was born in   
   Ermupoli, Greece in 1963 and was ordained a priest in 1995. He holds a degree   
   in economics from the University of Athens and a bachelor's degree in   
   philosophy and theology from the theological faculty of northern Italy. He   
   currently serves as priest of the parishes of St. Peter Apostle in Posidonia   
   and St. Joseph at Vissas in the island of Syros, diocesan bursar, member of   
   the economic council, head of the St. Paul pastoral centre and the catechetic   
   centre, and secretary for the Commission for the Catechesis in Syros. He   
   succeeds Bishop Franghiskos Papamanolis, O.F.M. Cap., whose resignation from   
   the pastoral care of the same diocesis and from the office of apostolic   
   administrator "ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of Candia, Crete, upon reaching the age   
   limit, was accepted by the Holy Father.   
      
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