Pope Leo, Priests, and the Future of the Church (The Drew Mariani Show)

Image via Alessia Pierdomenico / Shutterstock.   Drew talks with Msgr. James Shea, president of the University of Mary, about all things Pope Leo, young Catholics, and the future of the Church. Everything is looking pretty bright 🌟.     🌍📣 Pope Leo & The Youth:    JPII was a youth magnet... remember the approximant 5 million strong crowd in the Philippines?    Drew and Msgr. Shea agree that Pope Benedict was more reserved, but he still drew the young crowd with his quiet, gentle brilliance.   Pope Francis brought an entirely different charisma which was just as wonderful!   Pope Leo is already making waves; he's speaking directly to them like they matter now... not just someday.    📍 Next World Youth Day: August 27 in Seoul, South Korea; mark those calendars and start saving those airline miles ✈️.     ✈️ Teen Pilgrims, No Phones, Big Grace   Msgr. Shea explains how 150 high schoolers are prepping at the University of Mary before heading to Italy for a phone-free pilgrimage 🙏📵. That’s right... two weeks without their phones.   Msgr. adds that the teens are so excited to see Pope Leo. They love that he's from the Midwest!     🧑‍⚖️The Vocation Report: How Young Men Hear the Call   The average age guys feel a nudge toward priesthood is 16.   89% of priests say they were encouraged by someone who saw something in them.   That little nudge matters. Whether it’s a parish priest, a friend, or a grandma; your words could be a spark. 💬   Msgr. Shea first thought about priesthood in 3rd grade, forgot about it, then rediscovered the call in high school. He wasn’t pressured, but he was inspired by joyful, devout priests who were just really good to the kids.      📞 Thinking About the Priesthood?   Here’s what Msgr. suggests doing:   Talk to a priest. Just open the conversation. No pressure, just honesty.   Explore different paths; look at diocesan vs religious orders.   Spend time in adoration, pray the Rosary, and read Scripture. Let Jesus speak.     The Future of Priestly Life: More Brotherhood   Monsignor Shea envisions a future where priests live in community... no more isolated rectories.   Imagine small bands of priests living together, praying together, eating together, and keeping each other strong in virtue. 🏠🍽️🙏   It’s beautiful and needed. Loneliness is real. Let’s love and support our priests. Invite them to dinner. Show up for them the way they show up for us. 💛     Want to visit the University of Mary this summer?   Check them out at 👉 cometoMary.life      Final Word If you're a young Catholic wondering what God’s calling you to, or you know someone who is... say something. Ask the question. Make the invitation. You could be helping form the next great saint. 💬🙏👣       The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.