Dear Priests,
Three months since the Holy Father made known his intention to proclaim a Year for Priests, for all the priests of the world, we have finally arrived at that moment when shortly at Vatican Basilica, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, will solemnly inaugurate the said Year with the celebration of Vespers on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
These have been three months of intense preparation, not only to explain the reasons of this special Year but, above all, to enthuse you and the Faithful entrusted to your care so that this may be a “time of grace” that will produce great apostolic fruit, especially of fidelity and intense renewal in the work of the ministry.
Discerning the signs of the times, The Congregation for the Clergy wishes to accompany you in a particular way with a view to assisting your journey especially during this Year: It is therefore launching a new internet site www.annussacerdotalis.org which seeks to offer concrete help, which will contain spiritual notes, various updates and documents regarding the Year for Priests.
The Year for Priests has been warmly received throughout the world. The positive effects will make themselves felt very quickly. Let us, then, participate in it with every effort and creativity. May Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, be your model and your guide, our dear Priests. Be unconditional disciples and audacious missionaries for him. May Mary, the Mother of Priests,
Cardinal Claudio Hummes,
Archbishop Emeritus of São Paolo
Prefct of the Congregation for the Clergy.
