A good shepherd knows when to step down from his church, and leave completely, Pope Francis has said.
In his sermon during Mass at the Vatican’s Santa Marta residence on Tuesday, Pope Francis said good shepherds realise they are “not the centre of history”.
“Whether it’s large history or small history, I am not the centre, I am a servant,” the Pontiff added.
Speaking on the first reading at Mass, Acts 20:17-27, in which St Paul addresses Church leaders at Ephesus, the Pope commented: “A shepherd must be ready to step down completely from his church, rather than leave in a partial manner.”
