Be they priests or bishops, all men of the cloth are sinners who face temptation, Pope Francis said Thursday, reminding the clergy of their duty to put their flock - especially the poor - first.
"A priest or a bishop who doesn't feel a sinner and who doesn't confess, closes themself off and does not progress in their faith," Francis told clergymen at Rome's Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano.
What helps a priest to mature spiritually even if he sins is the desire for others' well-being, Francis claimed.
Even if priests strengthen the faith of others, they do so as sinners, he said.
"These two things are compatible if we put the sheep in our flock, particularly the poor, first," Francis said.
"And when we sin, we confess our sins as priests, recalling that we have a responsibility towards others - we are not like everybody," he said.
Before leaving the basilica, Francis gave priests a copy of a book written by a 90-year-old Argentinian priest, Luis Dri, 'Don't be Afraid to Forgive'.
"It reads like a novel but contains the truth and will help us to mature in our faith," Francis said.
