At the beginning of the liturgy, the pope paid tribute to Saint. Peter, kissing the feet of the statue of the Apostle in the basilica, and then went down to his grave, where palli were placed, which was then consecrated to Francis. From there he went to the “Altare della Cattedra”, where the Eucharist was celebrated.
At its beginning, the new dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, emphasizing the special nature of the past months in the life of the Church and the pontificate, the importance of daily Masses broadcast during the pandemic online, papal works of mercy and prayers for the sick, as well as those around them and wishing the Holy Father many years of Petrine service.
The pope sacrificed the pallas
Then the pope consecrated transferred from him to the tomb of St. Peter pallium. They are a sign of the power that every metropolitan in union with the Roman Church exercises in his local church. In turn, cardinal Giovanni Battista Re took the oath of allegiance and obedience to the Holy Father and his successors, and the Pope imposed a pallium on him. The remaining 54 archbishops-metropolitans will be imposed by papal representatives in their local Churches.
In his homily, the pope focused on two issues: unity and prophecy. He emphasized the variety of characters and personalities of Piotr and Paweł, pointing out that they were connected by intimacy not derived from natural inclinations but from the Lord Jesus. – He didn’t tell us to like each other, but to love each other. He unites us without making us homogeneous – said Francis.
The Holy Father pointed out that the source of bravery and unity of the Church of the first centuries was joint prayer. – Unity is a principle that is activated through prayer, because prayer allows the Holy Spirit to enter, open to hope, shorten distances, keep us together in difficulties – said the Pope.
In this context, he pointed out that even today members of the Church should not accuse each other, do not complain, but pray for one another. – God expects that when we pray, we will also remember those who do not think like us, those who closed our doors to us, those who are difficult to forgive. Only prayer loosens the shackles, only prayer paves the way for unity – emphasized the pope.
Francis noticed that they remind us of the unity between sheep and the Shepherd today pallias, as well as the traditional visit of the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, reminding that divided Christians should strive for full unity.
Speaking then about the prophecy, the Holy Father pointed out that it is born when we allow God to provoke: “only those who open themselves to God’s surprises become a prophet,” said the Pope.
Francis: we need prophecy
– Today we need prophecy, true prophecy: not empty words promising the impossible, but testimonies that the Gospel is possible. We don’t need miraculous revelations. It hurts when I hear: “We want a prophetic church.” But what do you do to make the church prophetic? Existences are needed to show the miracle of God’s love. You don’t need power, but consistency. Not words, but prayers. Not proclamation, but service. If you want a prophetic church, start serving. Keep silent – said Franciszek.
– You don’t need theory, but testimony. We do not have to be rich, but we must love the poor; not earn for yourself, but sacrifice for others; we don’t need the approval of the world, this good relationship with everyone, as we tell God a candle and the devil’s stump – this is not a prophecy. We need joy because of the world to come; not pastoral projects that seem to have their own effectiveness, as if they were sacraments, effective pastoral programs, but we need shepherds offering their lives: those in love with God – said Franciszek.
– As the Lord transformed Simon into Peter, he also calls each of us to make us living stones, to build a renewed Church and humanity. There are always those who destroy unity and suppress prophecy, but the Lord believes in us and asks you: “Do you and you and you … want to be a builder of unity? Do you want to be a prophet of my heaven on earth?” Brothers and sisters, let us be provoked by Jesus and we will find the courage to say, “Yes, I want it!” – said the Holy Father at the end of his homily.
Who will receive the pallets?
Among 54 archbishop-metropolitans nominated over the past year from 32 countries that will receive pallium in his capitals, there is the 60-year-old Cardinal Sérgio da Rocha, metropolitan archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia and thus the primate of Brazil. Two other new metropolitan archbishops also come from this country.
Five each – from the USA and Colombia, three from France (including Marseille and Bordeux), two each from Italy, Bolivia, Papua New Guinea, Mexico, the Philippines, Nigeria, Chile, Republic of Congo. Pallies are also intended, among others for the new Archbishop of Kaunas Kastutis Kėvalas and the new Archbishop-Metropolitan of Bucharest, Aurel Perci.
(pmd)
–
