Monday, June 2, 2014

EPISCOPAL ORDINATION IN ST. PETER'S: PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE, LIKE MOSES


Vatican City, 31 May 2014 (VIS) – Yesterday afternoon, in the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father conferred episcopal ordination to Msgr. Fabio Fabene, under-secretary of the Synod of Bishops.

During the Eucharistic celebration, he pronounced the ritual homily from the Roman Pontifical for the ordination of bishops, making various off-the-cuff additions. “You have been chosen by the flock: may vanity, pride and arrogance never come to you. And you have been constituted by men: may your attitude always be one of service, like Jesus. … I advise you to keep before you the words of Paul that we have heard: Keep watch over yourselves and keep watch over God's flock. This watchfulness means keeping vigil, being attentive, to defend yourself from many sins and many worldly attitudes, and to defend the people of God from the wolves that Paul said would come. … And overseeing the people also means praying, praying for the people, as Moses did: with raised hands, that prayer of intercession, that courageous prayer, face-to-face with the Lord, for the people”.

The Pope also reminded the new bishop to pay great attention to those who do not belong to Christ's single flock, as they too have been entrusted to him by the Lord. “And pray for them”, he added.

Finally, he emphasised that, by virtue of his mission, the prelate must be show concern for all the Churches, generously assisting those most in need. He concluded, “I think that this will be easy for you, considering the task that has been entrusted to you in the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops”.

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