For the last month and change, one of the most frequent observations I’ve heard from people is that its funny how we are so happy just to have something like normalcy. The most frequent word I’ve heard in Rome and in these USA, from clergy and laity, Catholics and even non-Catholics is “relief”. One person likened it to the feeling when a migraine ends. Another said it is like the fall of the Berlin Wall.
A priest friend alerted me to an address that Pope Leo XIV gave to the clergy of the diocese of Rome. HERE
Leo starts out with praise and thanks and friendship…. instead of the ritual, eventually predictable verbal abuse and obvious contempt we heard for so many years.
[…]
I wished to meet you to get to know you personally, and to begin walking with you. I thank you for your life given in the service of the Kingdom, for your daily labours, for your great generosity in the exercise of your ministry, for everything you live in silence and that is at times accompanied by suffering or misunderstanding. You carry out different services, but you are all precious in the eyes of God and in the fulfilment of his plan.
[…]
What a relief.
I would have liked some comment on priesthood and sacred liturgical worship. Leo’s emphasis was more on cultural context and concern for the poor. There’s nothing wrong with that and there is time for more. One cannot express every possible thing in a short address and he has only been 35 days since his election.
That said… what a relief. It is nice to have “normal”.
UPDATE:
Dear priests, thank you for your lives given in service to the Kingdom, for your daily efforts, for what you endure in silence, which is sometimes accompanied by suffering or misunderstanding. You are all precious in the eyes of God and essential in fulfilling His plan.
— Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) June 12, 2025
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I wonder if he’ll reinstate the possibility of monsignor-hood.
What a radically fresh approach from Pope Leo. The late pope too often spoke words of criticism and cynicism. And at times he mocked the clergy. He was frequently harsh in his tone. Dare I say even mean at times.
This brief address however was encouraging, motivating and uplifting.
The pope supports his clergy in their suffering and their joys… in their ministry.
We’re on the right track now. Deo Gratias.
Reply to Post Catholic
The late pope did not abolish the monsignoral rank he restricted it to priests over 65. And then only the rank of Chaplain To His Holiness was permitted outside of the Vatican and the Vatican diplomatic service. Within the Vatican there are many priests under 65 who are still given the monsignor title.
I hope that all priests be able to receive the title after age 40 and then once 65 be able to be named Prelates of Honor. Our clergy need affirmation and this is one way to do it. Of course the title “Msgr Z” has a certain zing about it.
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A Pope whose words to the clergy of his diocese are kind, uplifting, supportive, and encouraging, rather than harsh and spiritually abusive, is a breath of fresh air indeed, and a necessary one. This shouldn’t be remarkable, but after the previous pontificate, it sadly is. Thank God for this return to normalcy.
So encouraging. So many Priest
I have known over the years who have suffered under bad Bishops and Cardinals.
One dearly departed Priest who refused to say the new Mass was put in the Mental Institution by his Bishop. Escaped and used a different name and said Mass for us for his remaining years.
We have renewed hope.
I was surprised to learn this year that the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, The Eternal High Priest is very recent (1987); the fact that wherever it is celebrated it falls on the Thursday after Pentecost should have tipped me off (considering I’m known between Catholic friends as “the one that spends the whole season of Easter every year ranting about the necessary restoration of the Octave of Pentecost in the NO” this is pretty embarrassing). It is a very dear feast for me, one to pray specially for priests, and specifically the ones through whose hands one has received the sacraments. As this feast is celebrated in Peru, I imagine Pope Leo must have had it present in this meeting with the clergy of Rome.
Hopefully, once the Octave of Pentecost is restored everywhere, one way or another, a different suitable date is found for this feast, and its celebration extends more widely in the universal Church.