Vatican: Pope John Paul has decried the "scandalous behaviour" of some priests in a veiled reference to sex scandals which have shaken the Catholic Church.
The Pope, who next week celebrates the 25th anniversary of his pontificate, said clergy should embrace "the esteemed gift of celibacy" and should not view the priesthood as a career or a means of earning a living.
"Sadly, the lifestyle of some clergy has been a countersign to the spirit of the evangelical counsels which should be part of the spirituality of every priest," the Pope said in English in an address to Philippine bishops. "The scandalous behaviour of a few has undermined the credibility of many," he said.
A series of scandals involving child sex abuse by Roman Catholic priests has hit the Church in the US and several other European countries in recent years.
The Pope has made clear that the rules on celibacy will not be softened. He has instead called on church leaders to be more careful over selecting prospective priests. - (Reuters)