Pope Francis resumes the tradition of baptizing some newborn children of Vatican officials. Last year, the ceremony was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.  

Newsroom (09/01/2022 4:01 PM, Gaudium Press) Today, during the Mass for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Pope baptized 16 babies – seven boys and nine girls. The celebration puts an end to the liturgical season of Christmas.

Protecting Christian identity

“Dear children, with great joy, the Church welcomes you,” the Pope stated before marking each baby with the distinctive sign of the Christian faith: the sign of the cross.

In a brief, impromptu homily, short as not to “tire” the little ones and their parents struggling with screaming and crying, Francis explained the significance of the ceremony. In baptism -he noted -children receive their Christian identity.

“And you, parents and godparents, must guard this identity,” he warned. “This is your task throughout life: to watch over the Christian identity of your children. It is a daily commitment: to make them grow with the light they will receive today.”

Throughout the Mass, the imposing singing of the Sistine Chapel choir rivalled with the crying of the little ones, so the Holy Father invited parents to feel at ease and make the babies comfortable. ”And do not forget -he insisted – they will receive the Christian identity, and your task will be to guard this Christian identity.”

With files from Vatican news.

Compiled by Gustavo Kralj