Pope meets members of Portuguese College, reflects on
Fatima visit
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met on Monday with staff and
students of Rome’s Pontifical Portuguese College, reflecting on his forthcoming
visit to Fatima this weekend.
Recalling the apparitions of Our Lady to the three shepherd
children of Fatima, exactly a century ago, the Pope said that encounter was a
moment of grace, which enabled Francesco, Giacinta and Lucia to know and love
Jesus.
Like a wise and tender teacher, he said, Mary helped them to
understand the love of the Trinitarian God as the most important part of their
human existence.
In the same way, the Pope said, all those studying and
working at the college today must have as their principle goal to know and love
Christ, learning how to give themselves totally to him.
Whatever academic specialisations they may choose, he
continued, the first concern of all priests must be to grow in the experience
of the love of God, who is always close to us, just as he was close to the
three shepherd children.
Look to Mary, Pope Francis urged the seminarians, and learn
how to become more humble, but at the same time more courageous in following
the Word of God. Our relationship with Mary, he said, also helps us to have a
good relationship with the Church, learning how to love each person and become
bearers of life, hope and peace to the world.
The Pope concluded with a wish that the college will
continue to be a seed bed of apostles, fostering unity between Rome and the
local Churches, as a living witness of God’s love for all of humanity.
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