Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV held an open and sincere dialogue with priests of the Diocese of Rome, urging them to strengthen fraternity, avoid clerical envy, and remain vigilant about the influence of the internet and artificial intelligence in ministry.
After delivering an address on Thursday, Pope answered four questions from priests representing different age groups. The Vatican released the full question and answer session on Friday. His responses covered spiritual guidance, pastoral work, youth outreach, priestly life, and the challenges of digital culture.
Speaking to a newly ordained priest, Pope encouraged clergy to understand the difficult realities many young people face today, including broken families and experiences of abandonment. He said priests must accompany young people with closeness and compassion while offering a clear example of Christian life.
He warned against limiting ministry only to those already present in parishes and encouraged outreach through sports, art, and cultural activities to reach young people living in isolation. He noted that loneliness has increased since the pandemic and has been worsened by excessive smartphone use, which can weaken real human relationships.
Pope stressed that friendship and shared experiences can open the path to faith. He acknowledged that some young people are trapped in drugs, crime, and violence, and said helping them requires time and sacrifice.
Addressing parish ministry in a changing culture, Pope Leo said priests must first understand the communities they serve. Drawing from his own experience in Rome, including a recent visit to a parish in Ostia, he emphasized that effective pastoral care begins with knowing people’s real lives.
He also warned priests about relying on artificial intelligence to prepare homilies. He said the mind must be exercised and that preaching is not simply information but a sharing of faith and personal experience. While technology can assist, he insisted it cannot replace authentic witness.
Pope cautioned against the illusion created by social media platforms that focus on likes and followers. Without transmitting the message of Jesus Christ, he said, ministry risks losing its true purpose.
Another strong theme of the dialogue was priestly fraternity. Pope Leo warned against what he called clerical envy, which arises when priests compare assignments or positions and allow resentment and gossip to damage relationships. Instead, he encouraged priests to build friendships and support one another.
He recalled an example from Chicago, his hometown, where priests who met regularly from seminary days continued gathering for prayer and study well into old age. Ongoing study, he said, is essential, adding that it is sad when a priest stops reading after seminary.
Pope encouraged priests to meet regularly for prayer, reflection, and fraternity, and to build deeper relationships that counter isolation.
Reflecting on aging and suffering, Pope Leo said sharing joys and struggles prepares priests to face illness and old age with faith. He linked this witness to current debates on euthanasia, saying clergy must demonstrate through their own lives that life has great value.
He urged priests to visit the sick, bring Communion and the Anointing of the Sick, and support those suffering, warning that pastoral care cannot be replaced by staying home while others serve.
He also affirmed the mission of elderly and sick priests, saying their prayer and witness continue to be a valuable gift to the Church.
Throughout the dialogue, Pope Leo XIV returned to a central message: priests must live as brothers and friends, rooted in prayer and authentic relationships, so that their lives themselves proclaim the Gospel.