At 5:00pm local time today (11:00am EDT), inside the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided over the celebration of a Mass during which he conferred Episcopal Ordination on:
The homily which the Pope shared during the Eucharistic celebration is based on the homily provided in the Ritual for the Ordination of Bishops, to which he added some of his own considerations.
Brothers and sons,
Let us reflect a little on what a high ecclesial responsibility these brothers of ours are being promoted. 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 ministry from generation to generation, the Twelve added other collaborators by 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 Order. 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 has continued and been developed up to our times. In the bishop, surrounded by his presbyters, the same Lord, the eternal high priest, is present among you.
In fact, it is Christ who, in the ministry of the bishop, continues preaching the gospel of salvation and sanctifying 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.
Therefore, welcome with joy and gratitude these brothers of ours, whom we bishops with the laying on of hands today will add to the episcopal college.
As for you, dear brothers, elected by the Lord, consider that you have been chosen from among men and for men, you have been constituted not for yourself. but for the things that concern God. Episcopate is in fact the name of a service, not an honour, since the bishop is more competent to serve than to dominate, according to the commandment of the Master: Whoever is the greatest among you must become like the smallest, and whoever governs, as one who serves.
Proclaim the Word on every occasion: convenient and not convenient. Proclaim the true Word, not boring talk that no one understands. Proclaim the Word of God. Remember that, according to Peter, in the Acts of the Apostles, the two main tasks of the bishop are prayer and the proclamation of the Word (cf Acts 6:4); then all other administrative tasks will follow, but these two things are the pillars. 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 faithful guardians and dispensers 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 and is known by them, and who has not hesitated to give them life. Be close to your people. These are the three hallmarks of a bishop: closeness with God in prayer - this is the first job; closeness to the priests in the presbyteral college; and closeness to the people. Do not forget that you yourself have been chosen from among the flock. Do not forget your roots: those who have passed on your faith, those who have given you identity. Do not deny the people of God.
Love all those who God entrusts to you with the love of a father and a brother. First of all, the priests and deacons, your collaborators in the ministry; but also love the poor, the vulnerable and those who need hospitality and help. Encourage the faithful to cooperate in your apostolic commitment and listen to them willingly.
And be attentive to those who do not belong to the one 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 - this would be the fourth closeness - and you must bring within you the solicitude of all the Churches, generously helping those who are most in need of help. Care for this gift that you will receive today by the laying on of the hands of all of us bishops.
Watch with love over all the flock in which the Holy Spirit places you to support the Church of God. Watch in the name of the Father, of whom you make His image present; in the name of Jesus Christ, his Son, by whom you are made teachers, priests and pastors; and in the name of the Holy Spirit who gives life to the Church and with his power sustains our weakness.
Testo originale nella lingua italiana
- His Excellency, Michael Czerny, SJ, Under-Secretary for the Section of Migrants and Refugees of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development Services, a member of the Company of Jesus who was born on 18 July 1946 in Brno (Czech Republic), ordained a priest on 9 June 1973 and appointed as titular Archbishop of Benevento;
- His Excellency, Paolo Borgia, from the clergy of the Archdiocese of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo (Italy), who was born on 18 March 1966 in Manfredonia (Italy), ordained a priest on 10 April 1999, appointed as titular Archbishop of Milazzo and named Apostolic Nuncio on 3 September 2019;
- His Excellency, Antoine Camilleri, from the clergy of the Archdiocese of Malta (Malta), who was born on 20 August 1965 in Sliema (Malta), ordained a priest on 5 July 1991, appointed as titular Archbishop of Skálholt and named Apostolic Nuncio on 3 September 2019; and
- His Excellency, Paolo Rudelli, from the clergy of the Diocese of Bergamo (Italy), who was born on 16 July 1970 in Gazzaniga (Italy), ordained a priest on 10 June 1995, appointed as titular Archbishop of Mesembria and named Apostolic Nuncio on 3 September 2019.
The homily which the Pope shared during the Eucharistic celebration is based on the homily provided in the Ritual for the Ordination of Bishops, to which he added some of his own considerations.
Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the Episcopal Ordinations
Brothers and sons,
Let us reflect a little on what a high ecclesial responsibility these brothers of ours are being promoted. 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 ministry from generation to generation, the Twelve added other collaborators by 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 Order. 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 has continued and been developed up to our times. In the bishop, surrounded by his presbyters, the same Lord, the eternal high priest, is present among you.
In fact, it is Christ who, in the ministry of the bishop, continues preaching the gospel of salvation and sanctifying 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.
Therefore, welcome with joy and gratitude these brothers of ours, whom we bishops with the laying on of hands today will add to the episcopal college.
As for you, dear brothers, elected by the Lord, consider that you have been chosen from among men and for men, you have been constituted not for yourself. but for the things that concern God. Episcopate is in fact the name of a service, not an honour, since the bishop is more competent to serve than to dominate, according to the commandment of the Master: Whoever is the greatest among you must become like the smallest, and whoever governs, as one who serves.
Proclaim the Word on every occasion: convenient and not convenient. Proclaim the true Word, not boring talk that no one understands. Proclaim the Word of God. Remember that, according to Peter, in the Acts of the Apostles, the two main tasks of the bishop are prayer and the proclamation of the Word (cf Acts 6:4); then all other administrative tasks will follow, but these two things are the pillars. 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 faithful guardians and dispensers 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 and is known by them, and who has not hesitated to give them life. Be close to your people. These are the three hallmarks of a bishop: closeness with God in prayer - this is the first job; closeness to the priests in the presbyteral college; and closeness to the people. Do not forget that you yourself have been chosen from among the flock. Do not forget your roots: those who have passed on your faith, those who have given you identity. Do not deny the people of God.
Love all those who God entrusts to you with the love of a father and a brother. First of all, the priests and deacons, your collaborators in the ministry; but also love the poor, the vulnerable and those who need hospitality and help. Encourage the faithful to cooperate in your apostolic commitment and listen to them willingly.
And be attentive to those who do not belong to the one 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 - this would be the fourth closeness - and you must bring within you the solicitude of all the Churches, generously helping those who are most in need of help. Care for this gift that you will receive today by the laying on of the hands of all of us bishops.
Watch with love over all the flock in which the Holy Spirit places you to support the Church of God. Watch in the name of the Father, of whom you make His image present; in the name of Jesus Christ, his Son, by whom you are made teachers, priests and pastors; and in the name of the Holy Spirit who gives life to the Church and with his power sustains our weakness.
Testo originale nella lingua italiana
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