“The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1589). How can we fail to be moved when we recall that the gift of priestly ministry flows directly from this heart? How can we forget that priests were consecrated to serve, humbly yet authoritatively, the common priesthood of the faithful? …The Church needs holy priests; ministers capable of helping the faithful to experience the Lord’s merciful love, and convinced witnesses of that love. Let us ask the Lord to set the heart of every priest afire with that “pastoral charity” which can make him one in heart and mind with Jesus the High Priest, and thus to imitate Jesus in complete self-giving”.
Pope Benedict XVI, 19th June 2009