Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has told seminarians from Spain that life loses its order when the relationship with God weakens, urging them to cultivate a deep spiritual awareness so their future priestly ministry may bear fruit.
Pope met on Saturday with seminarians from the seminaries of Alcalá de Henares, Toledo, Cartagena, and the Interdiocesan Seminary of Catalonia. During his address, he encouraged them to read his recent letter to the Archdiocesan Major Seminary of Trujillo in Peru, noting that it outlines the essential elements of priestly formation.
He chose to focus his reflection on what he described as a supernatural view of reality, a dimension that silently sustains priestly life but can be easily neglected.
Quoting writer G.K. Chesterton, Pope said that removing the supernatural does not reveal what is natural but instead leads to what is unnatural. He explained that this does not only refer to scandalous behavior but also to lifestyles that push God to the margins of daily decisions.
Pope Leo XIV reminded the seminarians that humanity was created to live in relationship with God and warned that when this relationship weakens, life begins to lose its inner order. He asked what could be more unnatural than a priest who speaks about God while living without awareness of His presence.
He cautioned against becoming accustomed to religious practices without truly living from God, stressing that everything begins and returns to a living relationship with the One who has called them.
A supernatural vision, he said, involves seeking the deeper meaning of daily life and allowing faith to shape concrete choices. He encouraged seminarians to practice awareness of God’s presence so that their faith influences everyday decisions.
Using the image of trees that remain upright while already dry inside, Pope warned that priests and seminarians may confuse fruitfulness with constant activity. True formation, he said, begins with remaining with Christ and allowing oneself to be shaped interiorly, recognizing God’s work in personal life and in the lives of His people.
While acknowledging the usefulness of tools such as psychology in seminary formation, Pope emphasized that the Holy Spirit is the true guide who shapes hearts for service.
He concluded by encouraging the seminarians to allow the Lord to transform them in daily life and thanked them for generously responding to God’s call. He assured them that they do not walk alone, reminding them that Christ goes before them, the Blessed Virgin Mary accompanies them, and the Church supports them with prayer.