Pope Benedict XVI on the Priesthood

• Letter Proclaiming a Year for Priests on The 150th Anniversary of the “Dies Natalis” of the Curé of Ars (A reflection on Saint John Mary Vianney and the priesthood given June 16, 2009)
• Homily at the Mass for the Conclusion of the Year for Priests on June 11, 2010
• Homily at the Mass Opening the Year for Priests on June 19, 2009

General Audiences given during the Year for Priests

• Why a Year for Priests? June 24, 2009
• On the Priest’s Mission as Teacher, April 4, 2010
• On the Priest’s Mission to Sanctify, May 5, 2010
• On the Priest’s Mission to Govern, May 26, 2010
• Chrism Mass Homily on Holy Thursday, March 20, 2008 (The essence of priesthood is service. All priests are encouraged to renew their “yes” to the call of God.)
• Chrism Mass Homily on Holy Thursday, April 13, 2006 (The Lord makes us priests His friends. We should recommit ourselves to this friendship every day.)
• “If You Abide in Christ, You Will Bear Much Fruit” (Address to seminarians attending World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, on August 19, 2005.)
• On the Nature of Priesthood (Speech given by Cardinal Ratzinger on October 1, 1990 at the opening of the Synod of Bishops on priestly formation.)

Papal and Magisterial Documents on the Priesthood

• Amantissimi Redemptoris (On Priests And The Care Of Souls – Encyclical of Bl. Pope Pius IX on May 3, 1858)
• Haerent Animo (To The Catholic Clergy On Priestly Sanctity – Apostolic Exhortation of Pope St. Pius X on August 4, 1908)
• Ad Catholici Sacerdotii (On the Catholic Priesthood – Encyclical of Pope Pius XI on Dec 20, 1935)
• Menti Nostrae (On the Development of Holiness in Priestly Life – Apostolic Exhortation To The Clergy Of The Entire World of Pope Pius XII on Sept. 23, 1950)
• Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia (On St. John Vianney and the Priesthood – Encyclical of Bl. Pope John XXIII on Aug 1, 1959)
• Presbyterorum Ordinis (Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests of Second Vatican Council on December 7, 1965)
• Sacerdotalis Caelibatus (On The Celibacy of the Priest – Encyclical of Pope Paul VI on June 24, 1967)
• Pastores Dabo Vobis (“On the Formation of Priests in the Circumstances of the Present Day” – Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II on March 25, 1992)
• Directory On The Ministry And Life Of Priests (Congregation for the Clergy on March 31, 1994)
• The Priest and Confession (Excerpt, Apostolic Exhortation “Reconciliatio et Paenitentia”, Pope John Paul II on Feb. 12, 1984)
• “The Priest, Pastor and Leader of the Parish Community” (Congregation for the Clergy on Aug. 4, 2002)

Letters of Venerable Pope John Paul II to Priests for Holy Thursday