0
0
Illustration: Mark the evangelist by Andrea Mantegna, 1448
Pope Leo’s address to the seminarians
of the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Apulia “Pius XI” of Molfetta
and of the Episcopal Seminary of Aversa
Clementine Hall – Thursday, 3 September 2026
Mark 3:13-14
Jesus went up to the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted; and they came to him.
He appointed twelve, whom he called to be with him, and to be sent out to preach
In the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you.
Pope Leo’s address to the seminarians
Dear Brothers in the Episcopate, priests, seminarians, relatives,
First, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here today.
Though you come from different places, your houses are celebrating an anniversary together this year.
In Molfetta, you are commemorating the centennial of the new headquarters commissioned by Pope Pius XI, after whom your seminary is named.
In Aversa, you are celebrating the tricentennial of the opening of the current headquarters.
In meeting you, I am eager to emphasize one aspect of your journey of formation: your relationship with the One who has called you.
Study, discipline, and the stages of your journey are important, but only if they are grounded in a relationship with God.
Saint Mark, in his Gospel, recounts that Jesus “went up to the mountain … and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him.
He appointed twelve of them, whom he called apostles, to be with him and he send them out to preach” (Mark 3:13-14).
These few words contain everything.
Upon reflection, we can see an admirable synthesis of the experience that is valid for everyone who is called and for all those who wish to deepen the truth of their vocation. There is a mountain to climb to reach Christ, and above all, to be with him.
The heart of the seminary experience is here: learning to be with the Master, Jesus Christ.
The Evangelist reports that the Lord “called to himself those whom he wanted,” immediately highlighting the freedom of God from which every vocation flows.
There is no competition or ranking, nor is it written that he chose the best; he chose whom he willed.
In a world so eager to celebrate self-realization, it’s important to reiterate that none of us is here because we deserved it.
We are here only because of God the Father’s free choice,
a sign of his gratuitous love that never disappoints.
Dear Seminarians,
Your presence in the seminary is a sign of hope for the entire Church.
This is not vague optimism, but the certainty that the Lord is always calling, in every era and place.
Looking at each of you, I marvel at God’s wonder, who never tires of whispering to young hearts the beauty of giving one’s life for Him and for the church.
Every vocation is born from an intimate dialogue with God that is cultivated in silence and prayer.
This dialogue often takes place despite the deafening noise of the world.
(Leo XIV, Message for the LXIII World Day of Prayer for Vocations, March 16, 2026).
Everything is decided there, and to have that dialogue, one must learn to be with Him.
There are many examples, but I believe that for all of you, the Venerable Bishop Don Tonino Bello exemplifies what it means to be a priest and a bishop.
He shows this not through words, but through every gesture and decision, and he does so until the very end.
For this reason, the seminary remains necessary today as it did yesterday.
In a world that is in a hurry and looks suspiciously at anything that takes too long, one might think it is a luxury or an outdated institution.
However, this is not the case.
In fact, precisely because our time is rapid and noisy, there is a need for a place and a season of life in which one learns to be, to discern, and to allow oneself to be formed without shortcuts.
The seminary is not a delay of the mission; it is a prerequisite for it.
It should not be underestimated.
After hearing the voice of the Lord, you must reach Him by climbing the mountain.
This can be tiring because you have to go up on foot and sometimes become out of breath without seeing the top.
However, the fatigue of the spiritual life is sustained by the beauty of fraternity and the shared mission.
Jesus does not call just one man to the mountain; he calls twelve men with diverse personalities, some of whom seem unlikely to us.
The Lord gathers them together and keeps them side by side so they can learn that the Church is lived together.
It is not the property of any one of us; we are all called to love and serve her as one body. Those of you from Molfetta experience this in a special way because the regional seminary fosters a concrete friendship among the churches of Puglia, which will accompany you throughout your lives as priests.
Just as “no pastor exists alone,” no seminarian can conceive of a private journey with the Lord.
He must always experience the beauty of ecclesial mediation.
Therefore, the seminary should be a school of affections before it is a place to acquire information.
Dear Formators,
I ask you to be the first teachers of the care and fraternity manifested in authentic personal and communal relationships based on truth and charity.
Formators cannot be improvised; yours is a delicate ministry that requires preparation with knowledge, patience, and love.
Then comes the final step: descending from the mountain because it is not a refuge. Jesus does not take the Twelve up the mountain to keep them safe.
Rather, he takes them up the mountain so that they can experience God and then be sent out to share this new life with the world
You will be called down from the mountain and sent to the people of your land.
You will go to families who struggle to get by,
young people who leave home at twenty to look for work, lonely elderly people,
the marginalized, and those who have lost the meaning of existence.
The priest is sent to everyone so that he may proclaim the beauty of faith in Jesus Christ and the good news of our salvation to all.
This salvation has been given to us through Mary.
Entrust yourselves to her as she first did what is asked of you today.
Ask Mary for the grace to say “yes” to the Lord Jesus every day.
Dear Seminarians,
Before saying goodbye, I would like to thank you.
In the name of the Church, thank you for your “yes,” which you renew every day.
It is not easy nor is it taken for granted in today’s world, as the Church knows well.
I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the families present here today.
A vocation never arises in a vacuum; it often requires a home and parents who pray and know how to let go.
Dear families, I express my gratitude, as does the entire Church.
I greet and bless the deacons who will be ordained as priests in a few days.
You are in my prayers, and I hope you always remain faithful, joyful, and courageous disciples of the Lord.
We will pray for all of you.
I bless you all from the bottom of my heart, along with your bishops, formators, families, and the communities that are waiting for you and already praying for you.
Thank you.
