“Whoever wants to be a Priest to be served has already lost the meaning of the Gospel. The Priest is one who learns every day to give his life for others,” he said.
Archbishop Chimoio noted that Priestly ordination is not a human promotion but a radical call to configuration with Christ the Servant, requiring a break with all forms of personal prestige.
“The Priest is constituted to serve the people of God and not to serve himself through them,” he said.
The Catholic Church leader further underscored the need for consistency between liturgical celebration and daily pastoral life, warning that credibility in ministry depends on authenticity.
“There cannot be two styles of life in a Priest, one before the altar and another outside of it,” he said.
The Apostolic Administrator cautioned against temptations such as the pursuit of comfort, recognition, and the misuse of authority, which can distort the essence of Priestly Ministry.
“The greatest risk for a Priest is to forget that he was chosen to serve and begin living for himself,” he warned.
Archbishop Chimoio underscored the central role of prayer in sustaining priestly life, saying that without a deep relationship with God, ministry loses its meaning and depth.
“Without prayer, the priest becomes merely a functionary of the sacred,” he said.
Archbishop Chimoio also called on the Priests-elect to remain close to their people, sharing in their joys and sufferings as part of their pastoral mission.