The pope gave an important speech to those who participated in this conference about helping youth discover vocation to priesthood or a life of dedication to God.
POPE FRANCIS
'I confess that I am weary of using some expressions of our normal ecclesiastical language. 'Pastoral care of vocationsâ? could lead one to think of just one of many fields of ecclesiastical action, or a department of a bishopric, or the development of a project.â?
For the pope, the essential aspect of pastoral care of vocations is helping people experience a personal encounter with God.
POPE FRANCIS
'Pastoral care of vocations is an encounter with the Lord. When we welcome Christ, we experience a crucial encounter, that lights up the path of our existence, it frees us from the angst of our own little world, and it transforms us into loving disciples of the Master.â?
The pope gave them guidelines for promoting vocations: giving up one's own comfort to devote time to others; accompanying them without trying to control the will of God; and helping young people to ask themselves the right questions.
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