Vatican City (Asia News) – Today’s Regina Caeli prayer was also dedicate to the theme of vocations.  Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study overlooking St Peter’s square, after his ordination of 22 priests, which took place in the basilica.  The square was filled with over 40 thousand people, among them friends and acquaintances of the newly ordained.

Once again greeting the “newly ordained, their families and friends”, the pope invited all those present to “remember those the Lord continues to call by name, just as he did with the Apostles on the banks of Lake Galilee, so they may become “fishers of men”, in short his closet collaborators in the spreading of the Gospel and in the service of God’s Kingdom in our times.  We ask God to gift all priests with perseverance: that they may remain faithful in prayer, in the celebration of mass with renewed devotion, that they may live according to God’s Word and that day by day they may assimilate the same sentiments and behaviour of Jesus the Good Shepherd.  We also pray for those who are preparing themselves for the priestly ministry and those who form future priests in the seminaries in Rome, Italy and throughout the world; we pray for the families, that they may continue to sow and nurture the ‘seed’ of those called to the priesthood”.

The pope’s appeal is motivated by the great need for priests, the falling numbers of which are felt most keenly in countries with an ancient Christian tradition, in Europe, America and Oceania.

The appeal for vocations came on the celebration of the IV Sunday of Easter, known as “Good Shepherd Sunday”, which also coincides with the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  Reflecting on this year’s theme ("The vocation to the service of the Church as communion"), the pope underlined that vocation is a personal call, but in the service of God’s people and its unity.  “From this point of view – the pontiff explained – the variety of gifts and ministries which exist among God’s people assume great relevance.  All baptized people are called to contribute to the work of salvation.  Within the Church however, there are some vocations which are especially dedicated to the service of communion.  Responsibility for the Catholic communion lies first and foremost with the Pope, St Peter’s successor and Bishop of Rome; along with him the bishops are also masters and custodians of unity, successors of the Apostles, who are aided by the priests.  But consecrated and all of the faithful are also called to be of service to communion.  At the very heart of Church communion is the Eucharist: the different vocations lead from this Holy Sacrament, finding in it the spiritual strength to go on building in charity the one ecclesial Body”.  

Benedict XVI invited all those present to pray to Mary “Mother of the Good Shepherd”: “She – he added – who answered without hesitation to God’s call ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord’ (Lk 1,38), helps us to welcome with joy and willingness Christ’s invitation to be his disciples, forever animated by the desire to form ‘one heart and mind’ (cfr At 4,32)”.