This morning, the Holy Father Francis received in audience, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the seminarians of the major seminary of Getafe, Spain.

The following is the greeting prepared by the Pope for the occasion and handed to those present at the audience:

Greeting of the Holy Father

Dear brothers,

I am pleased to welcome to this house of the Pope the community of the “Nuestra Señora de los Apóstoles” Major Seminary of Getafe who, accompanied by the diocesan Bishop Ginés García Beltrán and the auxiliary Bishop José María Avendaño, the rector and the formators, have come on a pilgrimage to the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul, as part of the programme of celebrations for the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the seminary. I thank you for your visit, in the hope that your Roman pilgrimage may also help you in the spiritual preparation to celebrate joyfully the coming Jubilee 2025.

Saint John Mary Vianney, patron of the clergy with care for souls, whom we commemorate tomorrow, 4 August, used to say that “if we understood well what a priest on earth is, we would die: not of fear, but of love”.

Inspired by this thought of the holy Curate of Ars, which we find embodied in his life of total consecration to God and his parishioners, I would like to remind you, dear seminarians, that you too have received this call of love of the Lord, and with the help of your formators and many other people, you are preparing to receive one day the gift of the priesthood.

This journey of configuration to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is not without difficulties; therefore, every time I meet you seminarians, I remind you that you should embark on it taking care of four fundamental aspects, which are spiritual life, study, community life and apostolic activity. It is essential that you do not lose sight of the harmonization of this quadruple reality that you must achieve, because the Lord, and the Church, expect you seminarians to be, first and foremost, men of integrity and generous in your response to the vocation you have received, always ready to listen and to forgive, determined to live to the full your total dedication to God and to your brothers and sisters, with a particular predilection for those who suffer most, for the poor and the excluded.

Dear seminarians, it is no coincidence that the major seminary is located on the Cerro de los Ángeles, traditionally considered the geographical centre of the Iberian Peninsula. There you will also find the Monument to the Sacred Heart and the hermitage of Our Lady of the Angels, patroness of Getafe. I ask the Lord Jesus to be for each one of you the centre of your life, to mould your heart according to His, and to keep you always very close to His heart. And to Our Lady of the Angels, to watch over you and accompany you on your journey. Thank you.