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This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the seminarians of the “Pius X” Pontifical Regional Seminary of Apulia in Molfetta and the Episcopal Seminary of Aversa.

The following is the address delivered to those present during the meeting:

 

Address of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you.

Dear brothers in the Episcopate, Priests, seminarians, family members,

First and foremost, I would like to thank you most sincerely for being here today.

You come from two different paths and two different regions, but this year your seminaries are celebrating an anniversary together. In Molfetta, you are commemorating the centenary of the new premises, built at the behest of Pope Pius XI, after whom your seminary is named, while in Aversa you are celebrating the tercentenary of the opening of the current premises.

In meeting with you, I wish to emphasize one aspect of your formative journey: that of your relationship with the One who has called you. Study, discipline and the stages of your journey are important elements to bear in mind, but they are meaningful only if grounded in your relationship with God.

Saint Mark, in his Gospel, tells us that Jesus “went up into the hills, and called to him those whom He desired; and they came to Him. And He appointed twelve” – whom He called apostles – “to be with Him, and to be sent out to preach” ( Mk 3-13-14).

These few words contain everything. As we reflect on this brief passage, we can discern a remarkable synthesis of the experience relevant to everyone who is called, to all those who wish to deepen their understanding of the truth of their own vocation. There is the mountain to climb, where we may encounter Christ and, above all, where we may be with Him. The heart of the seminary experience lies entirely here: learning to be with the Master, the Lord Jesus.

The evangelist tells us that the Lord “called to him those whom he desired”, and immediately highlights the freedom of God, from which every vocation springs. There is no competition, no ranking, nor is it written that He chose the best: He chose those whom He wished. In a world so intent on celebrating self-realization, it is truly important to reiterate that none of you, and none of us, is here because we have earned it, but solely by God the Father’s free choice, a sign and pledge of a gratuitous love that always precedes us and never disappoints.

Dearest seminarians, your very presence in the seminary is a sign of hope for the whole Church. Not of vague optimism, but of the certainty that the Lord always calls, in every age of history and in every place. As I look upon each of you, I contemplate the wonder of God, who never tires of whispering into the hearts of young people the beauty of giving one’s life for Him and for the Church.

Every vocation arises from an intimate dialogue with God, nurtured in silence and prayer, which often takes place “despite the deafening noise of the world” (Leo XIV, Message for the 63rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations , 16 March 2026). That is where everything is decided, and for that dialogue to take place, we must learn to be with Him.

You have many examples of this, but I think that for all of you the venerable bishop Don Tonino Bello shows with particular clarity what it means to be a Priest and to be a Bishop: not in words, but in every gesture and in every decision, and to bear witness to it to the very end.

For this reason, time spent in the seminary remains necessary, today no less than in the past. In a world that is in a hurry and views any prolonged pause with suspicion, one might think it is a luxury, or an outdated institution, but this is not the case. Precisely because our times are fast-paced and noisy, there is a need for a place and a season in life where one learns to be still, to discern, and to allow oneself to be formed without taking shortcuts. The seminary is not a postponement of the mission, but a prerequisite for it. Let us not underestimate this.

Indeed, after hearing the Lord’s voice, it is necessary to go to Him and to climb the mountain, and this can sometimes be arduous, for we climb on foot, at times breathless, without yet seeing the summit.

The toil of spiritual life is, however, sustained by the beauty of brotherhood and the sharing of the mission. Indeed, on the mountain, Jesus does not call just one man, but twelve, with the most diverse and, at times, seemingly unlikely personalities, as it would seem to us. The Lord gathers them together, keeping them side by side, so that they may learn that the Church is lived out together: she belongs to none of us individually, and we are all called to love and serve her as one body. You who come from Molfetta experience this in a special way, for in the regional seminary, communion amongst the Churches of Apulia is not merely an ideal, but a concrete friendship that is taking root during these years and which will accompany you as priests throughout your lives.

For, just as “no pastor exists on his own” (Leo XIV, Apostolic Letter A Fidelity that Generates the Future , 8 December 2025, 15), neither can a seminarian conceive of a private journey with the Lord: he must always feel and experience the beauty of ecclesial mediation. The seminary, therefore, even before being a place where knowledge is acquired, should be “a training ground to help a seminarian attend to his own heart” ( ibid ., 12). And I ask you, dear formators, to be the first teachers of that care and that fraternity which are manifested in authentic, personal and communal relationships, built on truth and charity. One does not become a formator overnight: yours is an extremely delicate ministry for which one prepares with knowledge, patience and love.

Then there remains the final step: that of coming down from the mountain, for the mountain is not a refuge. Jesus does not take the Twelve up high to keep them safe, but so that, having experienced God, they may be sent out to communicate this newness of life to the world.

You will therefore be called to come down from the mountain, to be sent to the people of your own lands: to those families struggling to make ends meet, to young people who, at the age of twenty, pack their bags in search of work, to the elderly living alone, to the marginalized, and to those who have lost sight of the meaning of life. The priest is sent to everyone so that he may proclaim to all the beauty of faith in Jesus Christ, the good news of our salvation. It is the salvation that has been given to us through Mary. Entrust yourselves to her, as to the One who was the first to do what is now asked of you. Ask Mary for the grace to learn to say your “yes” to the Lord Jesus every day.

Dearest seminarians, before we part I would like to thank you. Thank you, on behalf of the Church, for the “yes” you have spoken and which you continue to speak every day: it is neither easy nor a matter of course in today’s world, and the Church is well aware of this.

And I wish to say a special thank you to the families present here. A vocation never arises without a suitable environment, and it often needs a home, parents who pray and who know how to let go. To you, dear families, goes my gratitude and that of the whole Church.

I greet and bless the deacons who will be ordained priests in a few days’ time: I keep you in my personal prayer, so that you may always be faithful, joyful and courageous disciples of the Lord. We will all pray for you.

I bless you all from my heart, together with your Bishops, your formators, your families, and those communities that are waiting for you and are already praying for you. Thank you.

This morning, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the members of the Conference of the Latin Bishops in the Arab Regions (CELRA).

The following is the address delivered by the Pope to those present at the meeting:

 

Address of the Holy Father

Your Eminence,

Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate,

Dear friends assembled here,

It is with great joy that I welcome you, the pastors who together form the Conference of the Latin Bishops in the Arab Regions. Through you, I wish to convey my greetings to the priests, the consecrated persons and all the faithful of your communities. In the words of the Apostle Paul, I wish you all: “Grace … and peace from God” (Rom 1:7).

Your Conference encompasses Churches present in a vast and complex reality, operating in contexts often marked by political, social and religious tensions.

Your Churches have witnessed the martyrdom of their members: let us think of Sister Leonella Sgorbati, a Consolata Missionary; of the Missionaries of Charity killed in Yemen whilst serving the most vulnerable; and of the many priests, men and women religious and members of the faithful who have given their lives in Iraq, Syria and other lands marked by violence. Their names may not be known to the world, but they are well known to God. Their fidelity to the Gospel remains a light for your communities and a call not to give in to either fear or resignation.

When communities become more vulnerable and many families are forced to emigrate, your ministry becomes even more necessary. Always be pastors close to your people, capable of sharing in their sufferings, of listening, supporting and consoling, so that through your presence, God’s closeness can be made visible.

Do not be afraid of your smallness. The fruitfulness of the Church is not measured in numbers, structures or resources, but in fidelity to the Gospel. A small community, if rooted in Christ, can be a valuable presence: not because it seeks power, but because it serves; not because it imposes itself, but because it bears witness; not because it responds to violence with more violence, but because it counters force with charity.

In the heart of societies marked by conflict and division, may your communities show that it is possible to live, serve and hope together. Through parishes, schools, hospitals and works of charity, you bring the Gospel to life by welcoming, listening to and supporting those in need. Support, in particular, the religious congregations that continue generously to stand by the poor and the most vulnerable.

In the midst of emergencies, do not lose sight of the essence of the Church’s mission: the proclamation of the Gospel, prayer, the Sacraments and Christian formation. A Church capable of serving must be first and foremost a Church who prays, listens to the Word and lives the Sacraments.

Take particular care of families and young people. May families, even when overwhelmed by difficulties and uncertainties, remain the primary place where faith is received and passed on, with the support of the community. May young people, often torn between high aspirations and an uncertain future, find in the Church a home that welcomes them, listens to them and helps them to recognize the value of their lives. May catechesis guide children, young people and adults towards a living encounter with Christ, so that the faith may be known, lived and passed on from generation to generation.

Also take care of migrants, of whom there are many, especially in the Gulf States. Many live far from their loved ones and experience loneliness and precariousness. May your communities be homes where nobody feels like a stranger. Defend the dignity of every person and recognize in every migrant a brother and a sister: in this way, charity becomes witness to the Gospel and a school of brotherhood.

Safeguard and strengthen the communion between the Church and the different rites. The diversity of Christian traditions is a treasure to be lived out in unity. May this communion give rise to sincere dialogue with other Christian communities, with Muslims and with the various religious traditions. Dialogue does not mean renouncing one’s own identity, but living it out without fear of encounter. Where war has sown mistrust, every gesture of esteem, collaboration and respect can become a step towards reconciliation and peace.

Your mission does not consist simply of preserving a Christian presence, but of making Christ present always: proclaiming Him in the Word, celebrating Him in the Sacraments, encountering Him in prayer and recognizing Him in the poor, the suffering, migrants and in every person placed under your care.

You are not required to solve all the problems of your lands, but to be faithful to the Gospel and to the people entrusted to you. Do not seek success or recognition above all else: seek fidelity. Be a voice for truth, justice and peace; men of prayer, shepherds close to your people, artisans of reconciliation and witnesses to mercy.

Do not be afraid to sow without immediately seeing the fruits. The sowing is yours; the growth is God’s. No act carried out in the name of Christ is in vain: a prayer, a word of consolation, a family supported, a child brought up in the faith, or a poor person welcomed are the seeds of a new future.

Dear Brothers, continue on your journey with confidence. You are not alone. The universal Church looks upon your communities with affection and recognizes in their perseverance, in the faith lived out in the face of adversity, and in the courage of their service, a precious witness for the whole Church.

I entrust you, your Churches and all the peoples of your lands to the protection of the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and Queen of Peace. May she accompany families, young people, migrants, the sick and the poor; may she sustain those who suffer and enlighten those in positions of political and social responsibility, so that they may seek the common good and open paths to reconciliation.

Upon you and upon all the faithful entrusted to your care, I wholeheartedly invoke the Lord’s abundant blessings. May He preserve you in the faith, make you steadfast in hope and generous in charity, and grant your communities and all the peoples of your lands the precious gift of peace.

Resignation and appointment of archbishop of Kalocsa-Kecskemét, Hungary

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of Kalocsa-Kecskemét, Hungary, presented by Bishop Balázs Bábel.

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Ferenc Palánki of Debrecen-Nyíregyháza, as metropolitan archbishop of Kalocsa-Kecskemét, Hungary.

Curriculum vitae

Archbishop-elect Ferenc Palánki was born on 11 March 1964 in Balassagyarmat, diocese of Vác. After completing his studies in philosophy and theology at the Higher Institute of Theology in Esztergom, he was awarded a licentiate at the Faculty of Canon Law of the Catholic University of Budapest.

He was ordained a priest on 18 June 1994.

He has held the following offices: deputy parish priest in Balassagyarmat (1994-1996); parish priest in Dorogháza (1996-2000) and Püspökszilágy (2000-2005); spiritual director of the Vác Seminary (2005-2010); defender of the bond at the diocesan tribunal (1999-2010); and spiritual director of the Central Seminary of Budapest (2010).

On 27 December 2010 he was appointed titular bishop of Fidoloma and auxiliary of the archdiocese of Eger, receiving episcopal ordination on 26 February 2011.

He subsequently also served as parish priest in Miskolc-Mindszent (2011-2015) and vicar general of the archdiocese of Eger (2013-2015).

On 21 September 2015 he was appointed bishop of the diocese of Debrecen-Nyíregyháza.

Within the Episcopal Conference, he is chair of the Commission for the Clergy and Consecrated Life, the Legal Commission, and the Doctrinal Commission.

This morning, the Holy Father received in audience:

- His Eminence Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith;

- Archbishop Gábor Pintér, titular of Velebusdus, apostolic nuncio in New Zealand, Fiji, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, Vanuatu, the Cook Islands, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, the Republic of Naoero, and Tonga; apostolic delegate to the Pacific Ocen;

- Archbishop Mark Gerard Miles, titular of Città Ducale, apostolic nuncio in Costa Rica;

- Bishop Gabriel Bernardo Barba of San Luis, Argentina;

- Members of the Conference of the Latin Bishops in the Arab Regions (CELRA);

- Seminarians of the “Pius XI” Pontifical Regional Seminary of Apulia in Molfetta, and of the Episcopal Seminary of Aversa.

Resignation of bishop of Dresden-Meissen, Federal Republic of Germany

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Dresden-Meissen, Federal Republic of Germany, presented by Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers.