--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have so many priests who have gone…" description: "\"We have so many priests who have gone half way … it’s sad that they did not manage to go the whole way; they have something of the employee in them, so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/pope-francis-85_aim_we-have-so-many-priests-who-have-gone-ha_2251847.png" --- # We have so many priests who have gone half way … it’s sad… ![“We have so many priests who have gone half way … it’s sad that they did not manage to go the whole way; they have something of the employee in them, something of the bureaucrat in them and this is not good for the Church. Please be careful you don’t fall into this! You are becoming pastors in the…” quote by Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/pope-francis-85_aim_we-have-so-many-priests-who-have-gone-ha_2251847.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/pope-francis-85_aim_we-have-so-many-priests-who-have-gone-ha_2251847.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/pope-francis-85_aim_we-have-so-many-priests-who-have-gone-ha_2251847.png) > “We have so many priests who have gone half way … it’s sad that they did not manage to go the whole way; they have something of the employee in them, something of the bureaucrat in them and this is not good for the Church. Please be careful you don’t fall into this! You are becoming pastors in the image of Jesus, the good pastor. Your aim is to resemble him and act on behalf of him amidst his flock, letting his sheep graze.” [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pastors should avoid becoming bureaucratic or overly employee‑like; they must emulate Jesus, caring for their flock. **In simple terms:** Avoid bureaucracy; be a caring shepherd like Jesus. Key Takeaway Lead with compassion, not bureaucracy. Themes leadership spirituality service Mood hopeful serious Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - parish administration - community outreach - counseling sessions Key Concepts pastoral care humility authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay true to pastoral compassion? - What practices keep you from bureaucratic habits? A Different Perspective Institutional pressures can push leaders toward bureaucracy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bureaucrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bureaucrats/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Employee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Pastor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pastor/) [Pastors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pastors/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [The people of God want pastors, not clergy acting like bureaucrats or government officials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-people-of-god-want-pastors-not-clergy-acting-like-bureaucrats-or/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [He looked beyond. He looked to the peoples of the Earth and saw the destruction of the family because of the lack of children.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/he-looked-beyond-he-looked-to-the-peoples-of-the-earth-and-saw-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [He saw the threat of the family being destroyed by not being open to life or children. Paul VI was brave. He was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/he-saw-the-threat-of-the-family-being-destroyed-by-not-being-open-to/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“That morning I sat in the front row with my head in my hands, totally stressed, praying, God, please don’t let my sermon be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banning-liebscher/that-morning-i-sat-in-the-front-row-with-my-head-in-my-hands-totally/) Banning Liebscher > [I struggle with trying to be a good pastor of a large church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-struggle-with-trying-to-be-a-good-pastor-of-a-large-church/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [I think a good pastor is somebody who is honest and humble and has a really caring heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-schuller/i-think-a-good-pastor-is-somebody-who-is-honest-and-humble-and-has-a/) [Robert H. Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-schuller/) > [I think I used to not know if I could be a good pastor because I think I had some things in mind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-lee/i-think-i-used-to-not-know-if-i-could-be-a-good-pastor-because-i/) [Trip Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-lee/) > [Inconsistency on the part of pastors and the faithful between what they say and what they do, between word and manner of life, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/inconsistency-on-the-part-of-pastors-and-the-faithful-between-what/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [If you leave the church service thinking about how good the pastor was, he has missed the mark. If you leave consumed with Christ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/if-you-leave-the-church-service-thinking-about-how-good-the-pastor/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [Ideally, a good pastor wants to empower a congregation to the point where they don't need him. You want everyone to leave feeling better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/ideally-a-good-pastor-wants-to-empower-a-congregation-to-the-point/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [A good pastor knows when they can't put two sentences together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/a-good-pastor-knows-when-they-can-t-put-two-sentences-together/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [Men, to exist, to become complete and mature, need to feel the joy of fatherhood. When a man does not have this desire, something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/men-to-exist-to-become-complete-and-mature-need-to-feel-the-joy-of/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The first reform must be the attitude. The ministers of the Gospel must be people who can warm the hearts of the people, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-first-reform-must-be-the-attitude-the-ministers-of-the-gospel/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Let's be pastors who cast vision that are worth people giving their life for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-carter/let-s-be-pastors-who-cast-vision-that-are-worth-people-giving-their/) [Matthew Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-carter/) > [“Pastors and Bible teachers go about their work in communal settings, where they listen to as well as deliver sermons, hear as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-leithart/pastors-and-bible-teachers-go-about-their-work-in-communal-settings/) [Peter J. Leithart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-leithart/) ## More by Pope Francis > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [God’s faithfulness is stronger than our unfaithfulness and our infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-s-faithfulness-is-stronger-than-our-unfaithfulness-and-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Most people nowadays would not consider love as related in any way to truth. Love is seen as an experience associated with the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/most-people-nowadays-would-not-consider-love-as-related-in-any-way-to/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The family remains the basic unit of society and the first school in which children learn the human, spiritual and moral values which enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-family-remains-the-basic-unit-of-society-and-the-first-school-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Listen to Jesus and follow him. That's the message of the Transfiguration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/listen-to-jesus-and-follow-him-that-s-the-message-of-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Proceed calmly in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/proceed-calmly-in-life/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I like to say that women are those who form life in their wombs - and this is a comparison I make - they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-like-to-say-that-women-are-those-who-form-life-in-their-wombs-and/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [You cannot insult the faith of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/you-cannot-insult-the-faith-of-others/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-remind-priests-that-the-confessional-must-not-be-a-torture/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [To all people of good will who are working for social justice: never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/to-all-people-of-good-will-who-are-working-for-social-justice-never/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [In Confession, Jesus welcomes us with all our sinfulness, to give us a new heart, capable of loving as he loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/in-confession-jesus-welcomes-us-with-all-our-sinfulness-to-give-us-a/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I pray every day for all who are suffering in Iraq. Please join me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-pray-every-day-for-all-who-are-suffering-in-iraq-please-join-me/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I entrust this Twenty-second World Day of the Sick to the intercession of Mary. I ask her to help the sick to bear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-entrust-this-twenty-second-world-day-of-the-sick-to-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Certain realities in life are only seen through eyes that are cleansed through our tears. Let us learn how to weep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/certain-realities-in-life-are-only-seen-through-eyes-that-are/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) [Explore all 1,479 Pope Francis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have so many priests who have gone half way … it’s sad that they did not manage to go the whole way; they have something of the employee in them, something of the bureaucrat in them and this is not good for the Church. Please be careful you don’t fall into this! 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