Seminarians Not Considered Endangered Species

Future Focolare Priests Gather at Castel Gandolfo
ROME, JAN. 9, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Seminarians aren't a type of endangered species, explained a Vatican aide, citing that the number of seminarians worldwide rose from 50,000 some decades ago, to 72,000 today.

This was one of the main points offered by theologian Hubertus Blaumeiser, an assessor of the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education, during the 5th International Encounter of seminarians from the Focolare Movement. The meeting was held at Castel Gandolfo earlier this month.Blaumeiser noted the significant rise in the number of seminarians in Latin America, Africa and Asia, while acknowledging the marked decrease in their number in Europe.

He was speaking to some 500 seminarians during the conference, which had the theme "There Is a Path: The Challenge of Human Relationships." The talks centered on the human and spiritual formation of the seminarians to better serve relationships among the faithful.

Blaumeiser affirmed that "to be a priest no longer offers a privileged position, but rather demands a counter-cultural choice, a deeper decision for God."