Pope tells priests not to be ambitious careerists

Vatican City, May 8 : Pope Benedict said men who enter the Roman Catholic priesthood should not see the vocation as a means to powerful careers but should instead serve Christ and the Church.

The 79-year-old German Pope issued his warning in a sermon during a mass in which he ordained 15 new priests.

He warned against ''the image of careerism, of an attempt to rise to the top and seek a position though the Church: serve yourself rather than serve.'' ''It's the image of the man who through priesthood wants to make himself important, become a personality. But the only legitimate ascent towards the pastoral ministry is the cross.

This is the door. Not to desire personally becoming someone but instead be there for others, for Christ,'' he said.

The priests ordained in St Peter's Basilica were from Italy, Poland, Honduras and Israel and will all serve in the Rome archdiocese.

Later, speaking to crowds gathered in St Peter's Square for his Sunday blessing yesterday, the Pope mentioned the problem of the shortage of priests in parts of the world.

''Even if in some regions, there is a scarcity of clergy, one must not doubt that God continues to call boys, youths and adults to leave everything and dedicate themselves to the preaching of the Gospel and the pastoral ministry,'' he said.

Reuters