May 3, 2009. As Bishop of Rome, Benedict XVI has ordained 19 new priests for the diocese of Rome. Thirteen of them are Italian while the other six come from Nigeria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Haiti, Chile and South Korea.



The Pope told them the being a priest meant being saintly and that they shouldn’t be surprised if the world doesn’t want to listen to them.

Benedict XVI
"Jesus experienced personally how the world rejected God, misunderstanding, indifference and the disfiguration of the face of God. Then, Jesus passed this on to his disciples."  

He asked them to love the world, but not to be mundane, and to remain calm if this mundane mentality affects Catholics or even priests. He said to avoid this, they should maintain a personal relationship with God.

Benedict XVI
"Learn from the Virgin how to always be men of prayer and service so you become holy priests in the image of the heart of God."

Shortly after the ceremony, the Pope asked Catholics all over the world to pray so that there be more young people willing to look toward priesthood.

JMB