July 7, 2011. (Romereports.com) Benedict XVI just celebrated the anniversary of his ordination. It was June 29, 1951. Ratzinger was only 24 years old. Since then 60 years have passed. He's now the Pope and a Bishop, but above all he's a priest, which is manifested in his daily work.
Arch. Fernando Filoni
Prefect, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
"During personal meetings we held when I was the Vatican's Deputy Secretary of State, I felt his extraordinary priestly humanity. That trait is typical of someone who loves the priesthood. He would always thank me for work I had done, or for work that was being done. When I would talk to him about an ill person, he would remember and ask me about it during our next meeting, even if weeks had passed. He showed concern for all the people I told him about."
Archbishop Fernando Filoni is one of the close collaborators of the Pope. As a Deputy Secretary of State, for four years he was responsible for all sorts of "ordinary business management" within the Church. He went along with the Pope on his travels and also served as a link for the Vatican Curia.
Now, as prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, so called mission territories, which account for almost a third of the dioceses of the world, depend on him.
Arch. Fernando Filoni
Prefect, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples "Jesus Christ has interested the Pope throughout his life. I would say the pinnacle of this is in his book "Jesus of Nazareth.” It's the fruit of his meditation, his thought, his writings and teachings throughout his 60 years of priesthood.”
By coincidence, Archbishop Filoni also just celebrated his ordination anniversary. That was 41 years ago, on July 3, 1970.
Arch. Fernando Filoni
Prefect, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
"It helps many of us remember the day of our ordination. It's important for priests to keep it in our memory. Personally, I always, in any event, feel and have felt the need to return to the beginning of my priestly life. It's something we should not forget.”It's a similar message to that of Benedict XVI, who defined his ordination as the beginning of "a deep personal friendship with God."
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