On the feast day of Jesus’ baptism, Pope Francis reminded everyone of their responsibility to help maintain their Christian identity in the Eucharistic Sacrifice of 16 infants baptized in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
C. Rubini CTC, Vatican News
Pope Francis himself baptized 16 children, including 9 girls and 6 boys, with morning sacrifices in the grandeur of the Sistine Chapel. They were the children of Vatican staff. Today’s celebration was the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.
In his free proclamation of the word, the pope said that today these children are accepting their Christian identity through the sacrament of baptism. The pope reminded that the role of parents and baptized parents is to help them deepen and preserve this Christian identity throughout their lives. He added that it was a daily effort and commitment and stressed the importance of helping children grow in the blessings of the light they receive today.
The pope said that the people of Israel went to Jordan barefoot and with open souls, taking the lyrics of the liturgical hymn, because they needed God and were to be cleansed by God. In the same way, these children today, with the help of their parents and baptized parents, are ready to receive justification and power from God to move forward in life. The pope therefore reminded parents and baptized parents of their responsibility to help them maintain their Christian identity. Concluding his speech, Pope Francis said that it was winter in the Sistine Chapel because it was winter, so it was important to understand that babies need to be protected from the cold, and if they cry, it’s a sign of their participation in the community that is gathered there.
