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Vatican City–June 11, 2010 [Canção Nova News] Today was the last day of the Internation Priest Encounter for the closing of the Priest Year.

One special day without doubt, The Day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Church lived a moment united, the greatest Eucharistic concelebration in the History of Rome.

More than fifteen thousand priests from all over the world, were present in St. Peter’s Square, this Friday, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Death of the St. John Vianney, The Curé of Ars. Benedict XVI celebrated using the chalice of the Curé d’Ars now kept in the Catholic parish of Ars in France.

The ceremony initiated with the blessing of the holy water as an act of penance and purification. As the heart of Jesus poured out blood and water for the world.

During his homily, Benedict XVI spoke of the this year of the priests, of the scandal of pedophilia, and called for these actions to be seen as a purification. He asked pardon from God and fro mMen and promised to do all possible toward the end of such abuses so that they never again occur. He promised that in the admission to priestly ministry and in the formation during the road of preparation for priesthood, it would be possible to evaluate the authenticity of the vocation.

Benedict XVI spoke of the Good Sheperd, who cares for and guides in the middle of the dark valleys of discouragement of struggles, God knows and cares for his sheep.

After the homily, the priests from the whole world joined with their pastor renewing their sacerdotal promises, in a special moment of emotion among those present.

The morning ended with a moment of the renewal of the act of consecration of the priests to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Apostles, Mother of priests.

The Holy Father fired them up in various languages sending each one to their field of mission.

Translated from Portuguese