With warmth and candor, Pope Leo XIV addressed hundreds of priests from the Diocese of Rome gathered this morning in the Paul VI Hall, on the first Thursday of Lent. The meeting became a moment of encouragement and pastoral challenge: “If it is true that we are at the beginning of this Lenten journey, this is not an act of penance: it is, at least for me, a great joy!” the Pontiff affirmed, eliciting smiles and applause from those present.

The speech revolved around St. Paul’s exhortation to Timothy: “I remind you to rekindle the gift of God within you” (2 Tim 1:6). Leo XIV evoked the image of the ember hidden beneath the ashes and recalled the words of Pope Francis: “It suggests the image of someone blowing on the fire to rekindle the flame.” He acknowledged that the fire of faith remains burning in the tradition and history of the Roman Church, but that its vitality must be constantly nourished in the face of rapid cultural changes, the weight of routine, and the growing distance many people feel from religious practice.

The Pope focused his message on three specific priorities for diocesan pastoral care:

First, he addressed the  ordinary pastoral work of parishes  and the urgent need to return to proclaiming the Gospel. He expressed gratitude for the quiet and sacrificial service of parish priests—echoing words spoken by Pope Francis at a Chrism Mass in 2023—and pointed out that the traditional model, centered on the administration of the sacraments, presupposed a transmission of faith from the family and social environment, which is now greatly weakened. “Some of our baptized people do not experience their belonging to the Church,” he quoted from  Evangelii Gaudium . Therefore, it is a priority to “proclaim the Gospel again,” to review the paths of Christian initiation, and to seek new ways of transmitting the faith that engage children, young people, and families differently, moving beyond traditional school rhythms.

Secondly,  to work in communion . In a Rome characterized by mobility, fragmented lifestyles, and relationships that transcend territorial boundaries, “the parish alone is not enough.” The Pope urged overcoming the temptation of self-referentiality, collaborating with neighboring parishes, sharing charisms and resources, and coordinating initiatives to avoid burnout and fragmentation. This joint work is not only organizational but also a living expression of communion among priests.

Finally,  he emphasized the importance of being close to young people . Many of them “live without any reference to God or the Church,” the Pope stated. He asked that we listen to their existential unease, their disorientation, the difficulties they face in the virtual world, and their episodes of aggression. Without offering magic solutions, he urged us to be present, to welcome them, and to engage in dialogue with schools, educational institutions, and specialists to support adolescents and young adults.

He addressed a special message to younger priests, often exhausted by an unfulfilling environment: “Do not be afraid to confront one another, even about your weariness and crises.” He urged everyone to live in priestly fraternity, to support one another, and to persevere in daily fidelity to the Lord, even when the fruits of their apostolate are not immediately visible.

In closing, Leo XIV reaffirmed that the primary commitment is to be “shepherds after God’s own heart” in service to the Diocese of Rome, safeguarding and nurturing the vocation on a shared path of conversion and renewed fidelity. This first Lenten address by the Pope—the first American in the history of the Church, elected in May 2025—marks a pastoral style that is realistic, direct, and full of hope, calling on the Roman clergy to creatively and collaboratively rekindle the evangelizing mission in a constantly changing city.