At 6:00pm local time today (12:00noon EDT), inside the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided at the celebration of a Mass during which he conferred Episcopal Ordination upon His Excellency, Alberto Ricardo Lorenzelli Rossi, SDB, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile (Chile).
The homily that the Pope shared during the Eucharistic Celebration was based on the homily provided in the Ritual for the Ordination of a Bishop, to which His Holiness added a few of his own reflections.
Beloved brothers and sons,
Let us reflect carefully on what a high ecclesial responsibility our brother is promoted to. Our Lord Jesus Christ, sent by the Father to redeem men, sent the twelve apostles into the world so that full of the power of the Holy Spirit, they would proclaim the Gospel to all peoples and gather them together under one shepherd, sanctify them and lead them to salvation.
In order to perpetuate this apostolic ministry from generation to generation, the Twelve chose collaborators, transmitting to them through the laying on of hands, the gift of the Spirit they themselves had received from Christ, which conferred the fullness of the sacrament of Orders. Thus, through the uninterrupted succession of bishops in the living tradition of the Church, this primary ministry has been preserved and the work of the Saviour continues and develops up to our times. In the bishop surrounded by his presbyters, the same Lord Jesus Christ, eternal high priest, is present among you.
In fact, t is Christ who continues to preach the Gospel of salvation in the bishop's ministry; it is Christ who continues to sanctify believers, through the sacraments of faith. It is Christ who in the paternity of the bishop increases his body, which is the Church, with new members. It is Christ who in the wisdom and prudence of the bishop leads the people of God on earthly pilgrimage to eternal happiness.
Accept, therefore, with joy and gratitude this brother of ours, whom we bishops with the laying on of hands, today associate with the episcopal college. Give him the honour that is due to the minister of Christ and to the dispenser of the mysteries of God, who is entrusted with the witness of the Gospel and the ministry of the Spirit for sanctification. Remember the words of Jesus to the Apostles: Whoever listens to you listens to me; who despises you, despises me and whoever despises me, despises the One who sent me.
As for you, dearest brother elected by the Lord, reflect upon the fact that you have been chosen among men: never forget your roots; your mother, your family - your roots; and you have been elected for mankind, you have been constituted in the things that concern God. Episcopate is in fact the name of a service, not of an honour, since to the bishop it means more to serve than to dominate, according to the commandment of the Teacher: Who is the greatest among you, you become like the smallest. And who governs, as one who serves. The bishop is a servant, pastor, father, brother, never a mercenary.
Proclaim the Word on every occasion: opportune and not opportune. Admonish, rebuke, exhort with all magnanimity and doctrine. And by prayer. Do not forget that the first job of the bishop is prayer: this is what Saint Peter said on the day he created the deacons: To us, prayer and the proclamation of the Word; a bishop who does not pray is a mercenary. And through prayer and the offering of sacrifice for your people, draw from the fullness of Christ's holiness the multiform riches of divine grace.
In the Church entrusted to you be a faithful guardian and dispenser of the mysteries of Christ, placed by the Father at the head of his family; always follow the example of the Good Shepherd, who knows his sheep, is known by them and has not hesitated to give them life. Be close to the people of God, to know the people of God, the people of God from whom you have been chosen.
Love with the love of a father and a brother all those whom God entrusts to you. First of all, your priests and deacons, your collaborators. The closest neighbours of the bishop are the priests and deacons. Be close to the priests: very close! When they look for you they should find you immediately, without bureaucracy: directly. Be close to the poor, the defenceless and those who need welcome and help. Encourage the faithful to cooperate in the apostolic commitment and listen willingly.
Pay close attention to those who do not belong to the only fold of Christ, because they too have been entrusted to you in the Lord. Remember that in the Catholic Church, united in the bond of charity, you are united to the College of Bishops and you must bring the solicitude of all the Churches into you, generously helping those who are most in need of help.
Watch over the whole flock with love, keep vigil; this flock in which the Holy Spirit places you to rule the Church of God, and this you do in the name of the Father, of whom you make present his image; in the name of Jesus Christ, his Son, with whom you are a teacher, priest and pastor, and in the name of the Holy Spirit who gives life to the Church and with his power sustains our weakness.
Testo in italiano
The homily that the Pope shared during the Eucharistic Celebration was based on the homily provided in the Ritual for the Ordination of a Bishop, to which His Holiness added a few of his own reflections.
Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the Episcopal Ordination
Beloved brothers and sons,
Let us reflect carefully on what a high ecclesial responsibility our brother is promoted to. Our Lord Jesus Christ, sent by the Father to redeem men, sent the twelve apostles into the world so that full of the power of the Holy Spirit, they would proclaim the Gospel to all peoples and gather them together under one shepherd, sanctify them and lead them to salvation.
In order to perpetuate this apostolic ministry from generation to generation, the Twelve chose collaborators, transmitting to them through the laying on of hands, the gift of the Spirit they themselves had received from Christ, which conferred the fullness of the sacrament of Orders. Thus, through the uninterrupted succession of bishops in the living tradition of the Church, this primary ministry has been preserved and the work of the Saviour continues and develops up to our times. In the bishop surrounded by his presbyters, the same Lord Jesus Christ, eternal high priest, is present among you.
In fact, t is Christ who continues to preach the Gospel of salvation in the bishop's ministry; it is Christ who continues to sanctify believers, through the sacraments of faith. It is Christ who in the paternity of the bishop increases his body, which is the Church, with new members. It is Christ who in the wisdom and prudence of the bishop leads the people of God on earthly pilgrimage to eternal happiness.
Accept, therefore, with joy and gratitude this brother of ours, whom we bishops with the laying on of hands, today associate with the episcopal college. Give him the honour that is due to the minister of Christ and to the dispenser of the mysteries of God, who is entrusted with the witness of the Gospel and the ministry of the Spirit for sanctification. Remember the words of Jesus to the Apostles: Whoever listens to you listens to me; who despises you, despises me and whoever despises me, despises the One who sent me.
As for you, dearest brother elected by the Lord, reflect upon the fact that you have been chosen among men: never forget your roots; your mother, your family - your roots; and you have been elected for mankind, you have been constituted in the things that concern God. Episcopate is in fact the name of a service, not of an honour, since to the bishop it means more to serve than to dominate, according to the commandment of the Teacher: Who is the greatest among you, you become like the smallest. And who governs, as one who serves. The bishop is a servant, pastor, father, brother, never a mercenary.
Proclaim the Word on every occasion: opportune and not opportune. Admonish, rebuke, exhort with all magnanimity and doctrine. And by prayer. Do not forget that the first job of the bishop is prayer: this is what Saint Peter said on the day he created the deacons: To us, prayer and the proclamation of the Word; a bishop who does not pray is a mercenary. And through prayer and the offering of sacrifice for your people, draw from the fullness of Christ's holiness the multiform riches of divine grace.
In the Church entrusted to you be a faithful guardian and dispenser of the mysteries of Christ, placed by the Father at the head of his family; always follow the example of the Good Shepherd, who knows his sheep, is known by them and has not hesitated to give them life. Be close to the people of God, to know the people of God, the people of God from whom you have been chosen.
Love with the love of a father and a brother all those whom God entrusts to you. First of all, your priests and deacons, your collaborators. The closest neighbours of the bishop are the priests and deacons. Be close to the priests: very close! When they look for you they should find you immediately, without bureaucracy: directly. Be close to the poor, the defenceless and those who need welcome and help. Encourage the faithful to cooperate in the apostolic commitment and listen willingly.
Pay close attention to those who do not belong to the only fold of Christ, because they too have been entrusted to you in the Lord. Remember that in the Catholic Church, united in the bond of charity, you are united to the College of Bishops and you must bring the solicitude of all the Churches into you, generously helping those who are most in need of help.
Watch over the whole flock with love, keep vigil; this flock in which the Holy Spirit places you to rule the Church of God, and this you do in the name of the Father, of whom you make present his image; in the name of Jesus Christ, his Son, with whom you are a teacher, priest and pastor, and in the name of the Holy Spirit who gives life to the Church and with his power sustains our weakness.
Testo in italiano
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