Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar of the Pope for the Diocese of Rome, conferred episcopal ordination on Bishop Renato Tarantelli Baccari, Auxiliary Bishop for the southern sector of the Eternal City.
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The co-consecrators were Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, Archbishop of Vienna (Austria); and Mons. Michele di Tolve, also Auxiliary Bishop of Rome and rector of the Pontifical Major Roman Seminary.
Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome, was present at the episcopal ordination, thus returning to the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the Roman cathedral, for the first time in this Jubilee of 2025 after having delegated the opening of the Holy Door to the Cardinal Queen , who is also Archpriest of the Lateran Basilica.
Mons. Tarantelli Baccari, 48, was ordained a priest by Pope Francis in 2018. The same Pontiff appointed him, on November 21, 2024, Titular Bishop of Campli and Vicegerent of the Diocese of Rome.
In his homily, Cardinal Reina said: “The first action that I would like to highlight is that of indicating. We are in the space of the first missionary testimony. John marks the time of a wait for the Messiah that requires rigorous preparation. And here he performs what becomes the exemplary action that marks the mission. Indicate the presence of Jesus: the shepherd is recognizable by his gaze and his ability to become an intermediary.”
“Transforming your own self into transparency of Christ. Making his person a continuous reference to the one who truly saves. We need pastors who do not replace the teacher,” he added.
After pointing out that the bishop must be the first witness of Christ, the example for the faithful, the cardinal specified that this must be done “always with his gaze fixed on the teacher. Constantly listening to his voice and his signs. The Church needs pastors who are tireless pilgrims.”
The third action, he continued, “is to remain. That does not mean something static, but rather it indicates the maturation of the relationship and the depth of it.”
“To remain means to assimilate the steps of Jesus and find in Him the abode of the heart, where the believer can experience the fullness of grace and the certainty of forgiveness. The pastor becomes the permanent indication of where God is,” the cardinal highlighted.
It is possible that in the coming days or weeks the Pope will appoint another auxiliary bishop of Rome, since the northern sector is vacant after the transfer of Bishop Daniele Salera as Bishop of Ivrea.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published in ACI Press.
Marco Mancini