At his general audience today, Benedict XVI notes how the concept of authority is often linked to that of domination, because of the dictatorships which in the last century "sowed death and terror" and of the "abuse of authority and careerism" that exists even in the Church . In the concluding celebrations of the Year for Priests "we will meditate on conversion and mission, the gift of the Holy Spirit and our relationship with Mary."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Not even the Pope can do what he wants, on the contrary, "he is “the guardian of obedience to Christ, to His Word "and" must precede in obedience to Christ and his Church".  “Outside of a clearly and explicitly supernatural vision, the priests duty of governance is incomprehensible”. Benedict XVI himself stated this to almost 40 thousand faithful gathered in St Peter's Square, in a speech devoted to the "authority" of priests, the last duty of priests, explained today after his discussion in recent weeks of the duties to educate and sanctify God's people

In today's culture, he noted, the concept of authority is often associated with that of domination. This is partly due to the “abuse of authority and careerism" which exists even in the Church and especially the "cultural experiences of the recent political and historical past." "Above all the dictatorships in Eastern and Western Europe in the twentieth century, which have made modern man suspicious of the concept of authority. Suspicions which often translate into support for the need to abandon all forms of authority, which are not exclusively by men or subordinate to them".  But "the gaze on the regimes which in the last century, sowed terror and death, are a powerful reminder that, authority any field, when it is exercised without reference to the transcendent, if it ignores the supreme authority, which is God, then it inevitably turns against man. Therefore it is important to recognise that human authority is never an end, but always and only a means, and that, necessarily and in every age, the end is always the human person, created by God with his own inviolable dignity and called to relate himself to his Creator, in the journey of earthly existence and in the eternal life ".

An authority which "has as its sole purpose to serve the true good of the people" is "of precious help in the journey towards full realization in Christ, towards salvation."  This is the authority that the Church is obliged to exercise, it “is service "and is exercised "not in its own name, but in the name of Jesus Christ, on whom the Father bestowed all authority in heaven and on earth. " "Through the Church's pastors, in fact, Christ feeds, guides, protects, corrects his flock because He deeply loves it."  It was he who wanted the apostles and their successors to "participate in this mission to take care of God's people, to be educators in the faith, directing, animating and sustaining the Christian community".

"Even if this pastoral task is founded on the sacrament, its effectiveness is not independent of the priest’s personal existence. In order to be a pastor according to God's heart, priests must be deeply rooted in a living friendship with Christ, not only intellectually but also freely and willingly, with a clear awareness of the identity received in priestly ordination and an unconditional willingness to guide the flock entrusted to where the Lord wants and not in the direction that, apparently, seems more convenient or easier. This requires, first, the continuous and progressive willingness to allow that it is Christ Himself who governs priestly life".  "And not even the Pope - he added - can do what he wants, on the contrary the pope is the guardian of obedience to Christ, to his Word" and " must precede in obedience to Christ and his Church. " "Outside of a clearly and explicitly supernatural vision - he continued – the priests own duty to govern is incomprehensible.  Instead it is supported by true love for the salvation of every believer, it is particularly precious and necessary in our time".

Then directly addressing the priests, Benedict XVI urged them "do not be afraid to guide each of the brothers that He has entrusted to you, to Christ, rest assured that every word and all behaviour, if arising from obedience to the will of God, will bear fruit; know how to live appreciating the merits and recognizing the limits of the culture in which we are engaged with the firm assurance that the Gospel is the greatest service that we can give to man. "

The Pope concluded with an invitation to the faithful to “pray for me, the successor of Peter, I have a specific role in governing the Church of Christ, as well as all your bishops and priests. Pray that we take care of all the sheep of the flock entrusted to us, even those who are lost".  Finally he invited priests to participate in the concluding celebrations of the Year for Priests, on June 9, 10 and 11, when "we will meditate on conversion and mission, the gift of the Holy Spirit and the relationship with Mary, and renew our priestly vows, supported by the entire People of God. "

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