Priesthood must not serve as ''a way to achieve security in life or to attain social position'', Pope Benedict has said.
Delivering a homily on the occasion of the ordination of 14 new priests for the Diocese of Rome, the Pontiff warned that a priest desiring success and status was liable to ''adapt to changing fashions and opinions''.
''In this way, he will deprive himself of the vital relationship with truth, reducing himself to condemning tomorrow what he praises today,'' he warned, adding that ''anyone who aspires to the priesthood in order to increase his personal prestige and power has radically misunderstood the significance of this ministry.''
A vocation, the Pope explained, ''is founded on the courage to say yes to another will, with the daily-growing awareness that [by] conforming ourselves to the will of God we increasingly enter into the truth of our being and our ministry.
''Only one who has an intimate relationship with the Lord can be seized by Him, can bring Him to others, can become His envoy. This involves a kind of 'remaining with Him' which must always accompany, and be the core of, priestly ministry, also and above all during moments of difficulty when it seems that 'the things to be done' must take priority.
''Wherever we are, whatever we do, we must always 'remain with Him'.''
Vatican
Apostolic Visitor named
An Italian newspaper has named a possible Apostolic Visitor to the Legionaries of Christ. Writing in Il Giornale, Vatican expert Andrea Tornielli stated that Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, is likely to be assigned the role of fully investigating the troubled congregation.
Ordained in 1961, Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, who holds a doctorate in canon law, was appointed Secretary of the Apostolic Signatura by Pope John Paul II in 2003.
Though the Vatican has made no official announcement on the appointment, Archbishop De Paolis was met by the Pope in a private audience last weekend.
Vietnamese meeting
A delegation from Vietnam has met with Vatican officials at a second sitting of the Joint Working Group towards normalising diplomatic relations.
The Vietnamese were led to the meeting by deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Thanh Son and included members from the country's Committee for Religious Affairs.
The meeting is believed to have closely examined the issue of internal conflicts in Vietnam in relation to the Catholic community.
Though Vietnam has a vibrant Catholic population, relations with the communist authorities have been fraught, especially around the issue of Church lands, tracts of which the government has attempted to seize on numerous occasions, resulting in violent clashes and arrests of worshippers trying to reach their churches for worship.
Cardinal denies corruption
A cardinal implicated in a major corruption investigation has denied any wrongdoing and has promised to cooperate with police on the matter.
Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Archbishop of Naples has been linked to allegations of back-hand payments to him while head of Propaganda Fide. Specifically, investigators state that the cardinal sold a building to Italy's then infrastructure minister, Pietro Lunardi for a price well below the market value, and in return received public subsidies worth €2.5 million for public works that were never carried out.
Commenting on the investigation, a Vatican spokesman said: ''We all hope and trust that the situation will be fully and rapidly clarified, so as to eliminate all shadow of doubt regarding both him personally and Church institutions.''
Italy
Bishop laid to rest in Milan
Bishop Luigi Padovese has been laid to rest in Milan. The funeral for the President of the Bishops' Conference of Turkey was attended by Archbishop Edmond Farhat, who ordained Bishop Padovese, and who represented the Holy See at the Mass.
Archbishop Ruggero Franceschini of Izmir has been appointed by Pope Benedict as Bishop Padovese's replacement as Apostolic Administrator of Anatolia.
iPad missal programme
A priest with the Pontifical Council for Social Communications has developed an application for the Apple iPad that could see priests using it in place of the traditional missal.
In addition, the app allows users to email favourite prayers to friends, adding to technology released in June allowing people to use the iPad to recite the rosary via an on-screen decade.
According to Fr Paolo Padrini, the latest application allows the iPad to store the entire missal, and will be made available to interested priest in July in five languages: English, Italian, French, Spanish and Latin.
Former 'rehab' priest charged
A former priest famed for establishing drug rehabilitation centres for young people has been formally charged with molestation.
Pierino Gelmini, 85, is denying the allegations levelled that he abused 12 boys in his care at the Comunita Incontro. Established in 1963, the Comunita Incontro now has 200 centres across Italy as well as others internationally.
Gelmini's trial has been set for March next year.
Lebanon
Another aid convoy for Gaza
A coalition of Christian and Muslim women is preparing to bring aid to the Gaza Strip by sea. In an action similar to recent aid convoys that were stopped by Israel's navy as it sought to enforce its blockade of Gaza, the women plan to sail the Mariam to the strip.
A spokeswoman for the Christian contingent has revealed that the women have put their faith in the Virgin Mary, and plan to raise an image of the Virgin as they sing religious songs once they are underway.
Israel's defence minister, Ehud Barak has warned that his country will hold Lebanon responsible for the actions of the Mariam.
Mexico
Bishops' warn on drugs gangs
The Church has warned that drugs gangs in the country may attempt to influence state elections this year. With violent cartels still engaged in a bloody struggle against the authorities, the Archdiocese of Mexico issued a warning that gangs may go as far as pushing their own candidates forward for the July 4 elections while using threats against people attending polling stations to rig the voting outcome.
Despite a drive by the Mexican government since 2006 to deal with drugs gangs, the archdiocese pointed out that gangs are now in control of neighbourhoods in some cities. Over 22,000 people have died in violent clashes since the clampdown on gangs began.
United States
Church aid after Orleans oil spill
The Catholic Church in New Orleans is working to help at least 8,000 families directly affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, it has revealed.
As the BP group has proved consistently slow in dealing with aspects of the disaster caused by the major leak from one of its platforms, people have turned to Catholic charities for help.
''Catholic Charities have been able to provide direct assistance and food much more quickly and put that in the hands of the fishermen through these five emergency relief centres,'' a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of New Orleans said, adding that the disaster was ''much more than a loss of income'' and represented the ''loss of a way of life and a culture''.
Boy memorises all the Popes
A young boy from the state of Indiana has committed the names of all the Popes to memory.
Eleven year-old John Paul Fitzmaurice completed the feat in response to a challenge set to all parishioners by Father Dan Scheidt of the Queen of Peace Parish in Mishawaka, where John Paul and his brother are altar servers.
John Paul took up the challenge to list off all 265 Popes when he realised that no-one else had ever successfully met Fr Scheidt's challenge. The boy's method was to memorise 10 Pope's per week until he was able to name them all. John Paul says he wants to attend World Youth Day in 2014 where he hopes to demonstrate his 'papal talent'.
Utah execution by firing squad
A bishop in the state that executed Ronnie Lee Gardner by firing squad last week has issued a statement castigating the action.
Responding to news that the execution had taken place, Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake City said the death had not served society.
''While states have the right and the responsibility for protecting their residents,'' he said, ''for Utah to take a life in our name diminishes all of us, because our society can clearly fulfil those obligations without resorting to the death penalty.'' He offered his prayers for all those affected by the Gardner case.
Though execution by firing squad was deemed illegal in Utah in 2004, Gardner's request for such a death was granted as he had been sentenced to death prior to the law's change.
Cuba
Hopes for a Papal visit
The Catholic bishops on the island nation have expressed the hope that the way can be paved for a Papal visit in 2012.
The idea of such a visit came as Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Vatican's secretary for Relations with States visited Cuba in time for Catholic Social Week. It was pointed out, however, that his visit had no connection with actual plans for a papal trip.
The first Pope to visit Cuba was John Paul II in 1998.
2012 is an important date for the faithful of Cuba, as it marks the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the Virgin of Charity, a wooden depiction of the Blessed Virgin that washed ashore and became a figure of devotion for Cubans. Mary was declared patron saint of Cuba in 1916.
Philippines
Man posed as priest for year
A man who posed as a priest for a full year in the Diocese of Cubao has been excommunicated.
Xavier Eubra de Borja, a parishioner of Christ the King Parish at Greenmeadows had previously been an altar boy there. He was subsequently believed to have entered seminary in Russia, and therefore no questions were asked when he posed as a 'guest priest' in his home parish, conducting Masses, confessions and retreats before he was uncovered. De Borja's performance had included a skilled knowledge of the Tridentine Mass.
Kenya
Bishops' fear after bombing
Following a fatal bomb attack on a Christian gathering, the Catholic bishops have issued a statement condemning the action.
''We condemn in the strongest words possible the atrocious crimes that were meted out on innocent Kenyans while conducting a prayer service,'' the bishops stated. ''We extend solidarity with the bishops and pastors who organised this successful prayer meeting.
''We as a country have already witnessed firsthand where this slippery road of violence and intolerance can lead us. We call upon all Kenyans to join hands and resist any elements amongst us that are bent on dividing the country or taking us back to the dark days of violence. We also call upon Kenyans to be calm and accommodating of one another's views whether for or against the constitution.''
The bombing of the prayer service at the Uhuru Park grounds in Nairobi claimed six lives. The bishops have stated their belief that the attack was prompted by uncertainty surrounding the country's new constitution, due for ratification on August 4.
Britain
'Support the Pope' call
The Archbishop of Westminster has called on the faithful to show their support for the Pontiff during his September visit.
Speaking of the ''delicacy'' of the papal visit, and in the knowledge of those who would rather not see a celebration of the place of religion in society, Archbishop Vincent Nichols said it was very important, from a Catholic view, to ''understand the delicacy of the mission the Pope has taken on in coming to address British society with the gift of Christian faith''.
Inviting Catholics to ''get behind the Pope and support him'', Dr Nichols added: ''There are many ways of doing this, with prayer, through the financial contributions that have already been made and, of course, if its possible to get to see the Pope personally in some of the big events.''
United States
Son of Legion founder claim
A man who says he is the son of Legionaries of Christ founder Fr Marcial Maciel has begun legal proceedings against the congregation in the state of Connecticut.
José Raúl González Lara claims the Legion should have been aware of Fr Maciel's proclivities. Lara further claims to have been abused by the priest from the age of seven.
Lara's case is set to be muddied by the revelation earlier this year of a letter from Legion member Fr Carlos Skertchly to him, allegedly responding to his demand for $26 million to maintain his silence.
Dismissing the alleged demand, Fr Skertchly wrote: ''We prefer to seek and face the truth, no matter how painful it may be.''
India
Anti-Pope graffiti concern
A Catholic archbishop has expressed concern at anti-Pope graffiti found in his diocese.
Reacting to the incident in the city of Shillong in the east of the country, in which vandals sprayed ''arrest this man'' next to an image of Pope Benedict, Archbishop Dominic Jala said: ''The Catholic Church of Shillong is deeply shocked by the shameful and condemnable picture of the Pope with words 'arrest this man depicted. Such blasphemous actions have deeply wounded our religious sentiments.''
