Pope Francis stresses the importance of the general office

Pope Francis warns against the self-referential attitude of some lay ministers who are “exaggerated” by their ministry.

Francis stressed the importance of lay ministers serving others instead of inflating their egos.

“Lay pastor, pardon the expression. This is a ministry, not a Christian.”

Ministers should never be self-referential, Francis said.

Service is one-way, not round-trip.

In his speech, he said that all baptized people are called upon to participate in the Church’s mission, whether or not they are doing formal ministry.

He said that a believer’s duty stems from the charism that the Holy Spirit distributes among God’s people for their enlightenment.

First comes the Spirit-inspired charisma. The Church then recognizes this charism as a useful service to the community. Finally, it is introduced in the third moment and spreads a specific ministry.

His Holiness made these remarks in his address to the Second Plenary Session of Decastery for Lay, Family and Life on April 22nd.

“Those who command should minimize themselves.”

Pope Francis concluded his address by stating that ministry has two important characteristics: mission and service.

He emphasized that at the root of the term ministry is the word minus, which means “minor.”

Jesus said: Otherwise they don’t know how to command. It’s a small detail, but very important. A follower of Jesus is not afraid to make himself ‘inferior’ or ‘minor’, he is not afraid to serve others,” the pope said.

“Herein lies the real motivation to inspire the faithful to undertake the mission of the church. Commitment to Christian witness in the reality in which he or she lives: serve the brothers, and Christ in them. willingness to serve

“Only in this way can every baptized person discover the meaning of his life and be ‘a mission on this earth’, that is, ‘bring light and bless in various ways and forms’. , invigorates, invigorates, heals, liberates…and accompanies itself,” he said.

Pope Francis established Decastery for Lay, Family and Life in 2016. Decastery held its first plenary session in 2019, dedicated to the “Identity and Mission of the Global Laity.”

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