Cardinal Philip Neri Calls Priests to “Open the Door” to Christ and Evangelise the Digital World

Old Goa, April 14, 2026: At the inaugural Mass of the Annual Gathering of the Conference of the Diocesan Priests of India (CDPI), Goa Archdiocesan Renewal Centre resonated with a compelling call from Cardinal Philip Neri, who urged priests to encounter Christ personally and carry that transformative experience into the digital world.

Presiding over the Eucharistic celebration that marked the opening of the four-day conference (April 13–16), the Cardinal centred his homily on the theme “Diocesan Priests and Digital Life: Challenges and Opportunities,” inviting clergy to rediscover the living presence of Christ who “knocks at the door of the human heart.”

“Jesus only knocks at our heart; we have to open,” Cardinal Neri said, underlining the freedom and responsibility of each believer to welcome Christ. Drawing from Scripture, he described God as “a God of newness,” evoking images of “rivers in the desert” and “water in the wilderness,” reminding the faithful that God continually renews and forms His people so they may proclaim His care and creative love to the world.

Reflecting on the Gospel account of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, the Cardinal offered a pastoral model for priestly ministry. Like the disheartened disciples, he noted, many today experience disappointment and loss of hope. “Jesus does not begin by speaking; He first listens,” the Cardinal observed, emphasising the importance of accompaniment and attentive listening in priestly life. He pointed out that Christ patiently walks with the disciples, helping them interpret their struggles in the light of faith before revealing Himself in the breaking of the Word and the Bread.

The turning point, he explained, comes when Christ is invited in. “Jesus does not force His way into our lives; He waits to be welcomed,” he said. Once recognised, the disciples’ despair is transformed into zeal: “What seemed like sunset becomes sunrise.” Their hearts set ablaze, they hasten to share the Good News, becoming witnesses to others who too have encountered the Risen Lord.

Cardinal Neri further drew inspiration from Saint Paul the Apostle, who adapted himself to all people in order to win them for Christ. This missionary flexibility, he said, is especially relevant in today’s rapidly evolving context.

Calling attention to the conference theme, the Cardinal challenged priests to embrace “new paths and new digital spaces” for evangelisation. “We must be on fire to make Jesus known everywhere, including the digital world,” he urged, encouraging clergy to see digital platforms not merely as tools, but as vital mission territories where the Gospel must be proclaimed with creativity and conviction.

The Mass was concelebrated by Archbishop Varghese Chakkalakal along with numerous priests from across the country, marking the beginning of a significant national reflection on priestly life and ministry in the digital age.

By Catholic Connect Reporter