Pope Francis gives to priests an examination of conscience: Don’t be Smarmy!

Pope Francis this morning gave a sort of examination of conscience to priests in his morning homily.

It is a powerful reminder to me and to each of my brothers of the need to stay close to Jesus.

He reminds us that each of us has limits, we are each sinners.  But if we go to Jesus Christ, if we seek the Lord in prayer, then we are good priests even though we are sinners.

“”We are anointed by the Spirit, and when a priest is far from Jesus Christ he can lose this unction. In his life, no: essentially he has it; but he loses it. And instead of being anointed he ends up being smarmy. And how damaging to the Church are smarmy priests!”