ADDRESS OF JOHN PAUL II
TO THE RECTOR AND COMMUNITY
OF THE FRENCH SEMINARY IN ROME 

Monday, 1 December 2003

Your Eminences,
Reverend Superior, Dear Brothers in the Priesthood,
Dear Seminarians, Dear Friends,

I am pleased to welcome you at this time when your Seminary is celebrating its 150th anniversary. I offer a special greeting to the two Cardinals present who formerly attended this Seminary themselves.

The formation of new priests is an essential task in the Church that requires the attention of the Bishops who are primarily responsible for it and whose task it is to call them to Holy Orders, after discernment with the priests designated for this purpose. Take advantage of this stage by allowing the Lord to guide you, with great flexibility to the Spirit and profound obedience to the Church and to her Pastors! Your complete formation consists of human, spiritual, moral and intellectual growth that presupposes discovering truth along your way, in the light of Christ and in contact with pastoral situations, confidently accepting the help of formation teachers in the heart of a community.

You also have the opportunity of being a place that offers a fraternal welcome to French priests who reside in Rome and to visiting priests, thereby obtaining a formative experience of the presbyterate.

Lastly, I greet the lay staff who see to the functioning of the Seminary.

As I entrust you to the Immaculate Virgin, Tutela Domus, I impart to you all an affectionate Apostolic Blessing.