[Gumdrop]

Funny. I thought it was the JPII generation. At least they are crediting PBXVI with something too. As for Pope Francis, I think it is too soon to credit him with influencing young men to enter the seminary. But, give him time.

Of course, the main reason is the world is getting tired of secularism and selfishness. Suddenly Jesus Christ is catching on with the younger generation. All glory be to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

[Gumdrop]

One more thing. I am a bit surprised that the phenomenon of more seminarians has not also been seen in Protestant Seminaries. Since I really think it is mostly the Holy Spirit at work in renewing Christianity here. Does anyone have an idea about this?

Do you think the expansion of candidates to include women, and now also the gay community is turning off the straight men?

Catholic parishes which are returning to the concept of altar boys instead mixed boys and girls, are seeing a lot more boys interested in becoming altar boys. Just a fact to share with everyone.

[irishjuggler]

As for Pope Francis, I think it is too soon to credit him with influencing young men to enter the seminary. But, give him time.

Vocations in Buenos Aires plummeted during his tenure as Archbishop. They ordained 12 new priests in 2012, as opposed to 40-50 per year when then-Abp Bergoglio took over.

Pope Benedict XVI and the orthodox bishops (whom he and JP2 appointed) deserve the credit for the recent turnaround in vocations in the United States. Young people are drawn to traditional Catholic faith, morals and practices. Liberalism and modernism undermine that. It's no coincidence that the most liberal and modernist dioceses in the U.S. typically have the lowest vocations per capita. I only hope and pray that Pope Francis doesn't do for the world's vocations what he did for those in Buenos Aires.