To the Clergy and Religious of Men's Congregations (23 February 1981)

On 23 February 1981, in Tokyo, the Holy Father addressed the clergy and religious of men's congregations, whom he admonished, saying, “ May your every word and action be an eloquent testimony to our God, rich in mercy. May your sermons inspire hope in the mercy of the Redeemer. May the way you administer the Sacrament of Penance help each person experience in a unique way the merciful love of God, more powerful than sin. And may your personal kindness and pastoral care help everyone to discover the merciful Father who is always ready to forgive.” 

And now I wish to turn my thoughts to our religious brothers who are committed to the high ideal of following Christ more closely in chastity, poverty and obedience. Later I will also have the opportunity to speak to the religious women of Japan. 

Dear brothers, your union with Christ, which began with baptism, which was strengthened through your religious consecration, implies a special union with the Church. You participate more fully in the mystery of his life and are more deeply involved in his mission in the world. Aware of this ecclesial dimension of religious life, I repeat to you what I wrote in my first encyclical: "The fundamental task of the Church of all times, and, in a particular way of ours, is to direct man's gaze, to direct the consciences and experience of all humanity towards the mystery of Christ, to help all men to be familiar with the depth of the Redemption that takes place in Christ Jesus” (John Paul II, Redemptor Hominis, 10). 

Your lives consecrated to Christ through the evangelical counsels are able to elevate the minds and hearts of our generation towards the only one who is Holy, towards the only one who is the Creator and Savior of all. Being full of joy, messengers of truth, generous servants of those in need and men of prayer animated by a profound trust in the Lord, you raise the gaze of the men and women of our time. You lift up their eyes in hope. You help them to see what it is possible to do to "walk on the high places" (cf. Hab 3:19) to enter into the union of love and conversation with God. 

I would like to say a special word to the priests present here, both religious and diocesan. The heart of the priestly ministry is to proclaim the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a proclamation which reaches its summit and its goal in the Eucharistic celebration. As you are engaged in this vital mission of the Church, I ask you to pay particular attention to a point that I addressed in my recent encyclical: “The Church lives an authentic life when she professes and proclaims mercy: the most stupendous attribute of the Creator and the Redeemer ” (John Paul II, Dives in Misericordia , 13) 

May your every word and action be an eloquent testimony to our God, rich in mercy. May your sermons inspire hope in the mercy of the Redeemer. May the way you administer the Sacrament of Penance help each person experience in a unique way the merciful love of God, more powerful than sin. And may your personal kindness and pastoral care help everyone to discover the merciful Father who is always ready to forgive. 

Furthermore, my brother priests, may you always be united among yourselves and with your Bishops. As Ignatius of Antioch wrote to Polycarp: “Let unity, the greatest of all goods, be your concern.” Unity within the presbyterate is not without importance for our life and our priestly service. 

In fact it is an integral part of the preaching of the Gospel. And it symbolizes the real intent of our ministry: to promote union with the Holy Trinity and strengthen brotherhood among all people. Thus, the same zeal that drives us to serve our people must also inspire us to be united among ourselves. Remember how Jesus' desire for unity led him to pray at the Last Supper: “May they all be one. As You, Father, are in me and I in You, may they also be one in us so that the world may believe that You sent me” ( Jn 17:21). 

Thus, I urge you with the words of Saint Paul: "love one another with brotherly affection" ( Rom 12:10). In the midst of all your pastoral occupations, you also find the opportunity to pray together, to offer hospitality to each other, to encourage each other in the work of the Lord. May you have special attention for those of your brothers who are alone. sick or oppressed by the burdens of life. As "collaborators in the truth" (cf. 3 John 1:8), support your brother priests in the great task that is ours, the proclamation of the merciful love of God, which has been made visible in Christ Jesus Our Lord. 

In expressing my affection and esteem for all the priests and brothers present here, I would like to add a word of particular appreciation for the contribution of missionaries to the Church in Japan. Through the generous labors of your predecessors, the Church was planted in this land, and your faithful ministry continues to be an efficient service to the cause of the Gospel. Be assured that the whole Church greatly honors your missionary vocation and that of all your fellow missionaries throughout the world. 

Today renew your trust in Jesus Christ and your commitment to the glory of his holy name. 

And to all those gathered in this cathedral church I say: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:3). 

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