By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – A priest must be honest, righteous, courageous in the face of evil and at the humble service of God and humanity, Pope Benedict XVI said.

The pope made his comments March 20 at a chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica where he led more than 1,500 priests and bishops in a renewal of their ordination promises.

The pope, presiding over the first of two Holy Thursday liturgies, blessed the oils which will be used in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, ordination and the anointing of the sick.

Deacons carried the oils in large silver urns to the main altar while catechumens, youths preparing for confirmation, the sick and deacons about to be ordained in the Diocese of Rome wheeled small tables carrying large, artistic urns called "anfore," which also contained the sacramental oils.

In his homily, the pope reminded his audience of the vows many of them made when they embraced the priesthood: to stand before God and serve him.

A priest "must be a righteous, vigilant person, a person who is upstanding" in leading a holy and Christian life, he said.

But he must also be a servant, he added, and all he does must be carried out with that humble attitude.

During the celebration of the Eucharist, for example, the priest is "fulfilling a service to God and a service to all people," he said.

Christ created an institution that entailed the giving of oneself even unto death for the good of all humanity, the pope said. Today's priests must become part of this faith tradition based on such selfless service, he said.

Service also entails obedience, the pope said.

"Humanity's temptation is always wanting to be completely autonomous, to only follow one's own desire, and to believe that only by doing so will we be free; that only through something akin to limitless freedom would man be fully man, would become divine," he said.

But, the pope said, the truth is "we have to share our freedom with others and we can be free only in communion with them." True freedom also comes about only when pursuing God's will, he added.

While this kind of obedience to God is something expected of all people, it must be made even more concretely evident in the life of a priest, he said.

As priests, "we do not proclaim ourselves, but (God) and his word," said the pope. "We do not invent the church in the way we would like it to be, but we proclaim the word of Christ in the right way, only in communion with his body."

Priestly obedience means serving God and the church and that might mean having to go places or do things that were not part of one's own plans, the pope said.

"This letting oneself be led when we do not desire is an essential part of our service and it is exactly this that makes us free," he said.

By letting oneself be led by God and his will, "we experience something new – the richness of God's love," said the pope.

He said a priest also must be vigilant against "the persistent powers of evil."

He must help the world always be on the lookout for God, he must be upstanding, hold firm against current trends, stand for the truth, and be dedicated in his commitment to the good, the pope said.

"The priest must be honest, bold and ready" to withstand insults and abuse for the Lord and be joyous in suffering dishonor for the sake of his name, Pope Benedict said.