Pope Francis recently met with seminarians and formators from various Spanish dioceses, including Valencia, to discuss the importance of understanding and connecting with the pain of those they serve. This meeting followed devastating floods in Valencia in October 2024 that resulted in around 230 deaths and significant damage, prompting many volunteers and organizations to help the victims.
During his address, the Pope emphasized that the flooding represents the deep feelings of loss and isolation experienced by many. He explained that priests should aim to “bind up the broken hearted” by offering spiritual support during life’s challenges. He reflected on the difficulty of expressing his feelings about the suffering of Valencia residents during their Christmas season after the disaster.
Pope Francis expressed that while such pain is harsh, it can lead to hope by forcing people to confront their hardships and find deeper meaning in their experiences. He pointed out that hope is different from mere optimism; it is rooted in faith in Jesus, who understands human suffering. He reminded the seminarians that they should embody Christ’s compassion by sharing their own lives with those who are suffering.
Pope says, “And being a priest is being another Christ, it is becoming clay in the people’s tears, and when you see broken people, because in Valencia there are broken people, who have lost their lives in pieces, give them pieces, pieces, of yourselves, as Christ does in the Eucharist.”
In his concluding remarks, Pope Francis urged the future priests to give freely of themselves, just as they have received freely from God.