It's not causal, certainly.
There's no reason why a Church of 62 million members is served by an ever-dwindling number of priests. The Church ought to find out why.
The Vatican, however, is not interested, and asks us to "pray" for more priests.
How many Catholic parents do you think are actively encouraging their young male children to consider the priesthood, with what has happened over the last 18 months, and continues to happen?
This is John Paul II's decision. He's a stubborn Pole, who can reach out to the Orthodox, to Protestants, hell, to Muslims, AND he can welcome Protestant ministers into the Catholic priesthood at an ever-increasing clip.
But, he cannot let the thought cross his mind that married Catholic men could be called to the priesthood.
I think it's because he knows that the whole celibacy canard could collapse, in a heap. So, better to continue the begging and pleading than to actually get at the root causes, to listen to local bishops, and to face the facts honestly.