By Charles Igwe
On Wednesday, 29 May, Pope Francis met with newly ordained priests from Rome, marking his second such meeting with clergy in the past month. This follow-up encounter, following a previous session on May 14 with priests who have served for over 40 years, was held for those in ministry for less than ten years.
The meeting took place at the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master, a religious order of sisters who warmly welcomed the Pope with greetings, gifts, and blessings. The Pope engaged in a closed-door dialogue with the priests on pastoral issues, beginning the session with a prayer written by Pope Paul VI.
As the Pope arrived, he immediately began conversing with five nuns from the order, asking, “Thank you, thank you. How many novices do you have?” His arrival was met with loud applause from within, with all the nuns, including elderly members in wheelchairs, eagerly awaiting his greeting.
Pope Francis made a double round through the chapel, shaking hands with everyone present. He received a white balloon from a child, to whom he gave a blessing and a sweet treat. The Pontiff also distributed sweets to the nuns. An elderly nun, celebrating her 84th birthday, asked for a blessing, to which the Pope responded by placing his hand on her head and offering a prayer.
Addressing the gathered group, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you for your words. I give you my greetings and blessings. Do not tire of doing good!” The Pious Disciples presented him with a chasuble and a book in celebration of their centenary, which they marked in February.
Inside the Church dedicated to Jesus the Divine Master, the Pope was welcomed by the young priests with loud applause. Bishop Michele Di Tolve, delegate for the care of the diaconate, clergy, and religious life, noted that some of the priests were ordained as recently as 2024.
The Pope commenced the meeting with a prayer and the reading of the day’s Gospel. This was followed by a closed-door Q&A session focused on pastoral issues, allowing the young priests to seek guidance and discuss their concerns with the Pontiff.
