Dear Pope Leo,

I write in support of Bishop Bonny of Antwerp, and his intention to do all in his power to ordain suitable married men — viri probati — to the priesthood from 2028.

Bishop Bonny speaks for many bishops and priests throughout the Catholic world who are facing an extreme shortage of priests and the inability to minister the sacraments to the faithful.

I write as a former parish priest, having been ordained over 50 years ago.

The possibility of ordaining married men was first mooted by your saintly predecessor Pope St Paul VI in the 1960s.

Since then, we have witnessed a drastic decline in vocations to the priesthood.

Many dioceses in the West have brought in priests from Third World countries, and although this has plugged gaps, it is not a true solution.

Many of my colleagues are now running two or three or even more parishes and, in the process, running themselves into the ground.

In some dioceses, priests are unable to retire, just to keep the present situation going. No doubt you are aware of this situation.

The requirement of celibacy for ordination was made nearly 1000 years ago to bring order to a chaotic situation. The Church created the rule; the Church can lift it.

The faithful are now well aware of the challenges that compulsory celibacy demands, especially following the many abuse scandals that have bankrupted some dioceses.

Your much-loved predecessor, Pope Francis, when faced with making a decision following the Amazon synod, pulled back in the belief that the time was not right.

Now I believe the time is right.

The reasons for a change have been thrashed out since the 1960s. A pastoral emergency needs a sensible pastoral solution.

Persisting with a rule that has lost its witness value only creates further scandal.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Peter Murphy
Diocese of Auckland, New Zealand.

• Peter Murphy is a retired diocesan priest. He currently resides at the Abbaye de Bonnevaux, Marçay, France, home of the World Community for Christian Meditation.