Pope Francis celebrated the ordination of two new bishops, Monsignor Guido Marini and Monsignor Andrés Gabriel Ferrada Moreira in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Newsroom – Vatican City (October 18, 2021, 2:20 PM, Gaudium Press) Last Sunday, October 17, Pope Francis celebrated the Mass of the episcopal ordination of Monsignor Guido Marini and Monsignor Andrés Gabriel Ferrada Moreira in St. Peter’s Basilica.
The ordinands
Monsignor Guido Marini was Pontifical Ceremonial for more than 14 years. First with Benedict XVI and then with Francis, Monsignor Guido was responsible for the smooth execution of papal ceremonies. In 2019, Monsignor Guido Marini was appointed to be in charge of the choir of the Sistine Chapel, the Pontifical choir. Last August, he was appointed bishop of Genoa, Italy.
Monsignor Andrés Gabriel Ferrada Moreira, 52, was appointed in September as secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy. Originally from Chile, Bishop Andrés Gabriel Ferrada Moreira was ordained a priest in 1999 and received his doctorate in 2006 from the Gregorian. He has held various pastoral and academic positions in the Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile.
A Homily With Advice for the New Bishops
Between the reading of the proposed text in the Italian Roman Pontifical and in a spontaneous speech, the Pontiff delivered a homily highlighting important points about the role of a bishop.
Among the main functions of a bishop are prayer and proclaiming the Gospel. In fact, he explained that the first task of a bishop is prayer, which must be done with the heart.
“Proclaim the Word on every occasion, opportunely or inopportunely, admonish, rebuke, exhort in all magnanimity and doctrine, continue to study,” he said.
Francis further explained that Episcopate is the name of a service, not an honour. There is no episcopate without service, for the task of a bishop is “to serve rather than to dominate.
Closeness with God, with clergy and with people
Francis continued with yet another exhortation. He asked that new bishops always keep “closeness.” Closeness with God, with the people, with the priests and with the other bishops.
Regarding the other brother bishops, he explained: “there will be discussions among you, but as brothers, close to each other. Never speak ill of a brother bishop, never.
The Pontiff also evoked the closeness and availability to priests and explained: “How many times we can hear the complaints of a priest ‘I called a bishop, but the secretary said that his schedule was full.'” Francis concluded by saying that it is necessary to call the Priest the same day or the next day. “Proximity with priests, and if they do not see, go see them: proximity” (FM)
With information from VaticanNews.
Compiled by Zephania Gangl