This January 12, on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Pope Francis imparted the first of the sacraments of Christian initiation to 21 children, children of Vatican employees, congratulating the parents for giving the little ones the greatest gift that is faith.
“Today, each of you, parents, and the Church itself, give the greatest gift: the gift of faith to children,” said the Holy Father before the start of the ceremony that took place in the Sistine Chapel. .
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Pope Francis also invited parents to make their little children feel good, “because today they rule and we must serve them with the sacrament, with prayers.”
The ceremony was concelebrated by the papal almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski; and the president of the Governorate of Vatican City State, Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga. Both were in charge of marking the chest of each child with the oil of the catechumens.
Then, Pope Francis administered Baptism, bathing the head of each child with holy water. Subsequently, the anointing with the holy chrism and the lighting of the candles with the fire of the Easter candle was carried out by each father.
As part of the ceremony, both cardinals performed the rite of Effate (open up), a word that was pronounced by Jesus when he healed a deaf. In that sense, both cardinals touched the ears and lips of the newly baptized with their thumbs.
Vatican News explains that the tradition of baptizing the children of Vatican employees began in 1981 with Saint John Paul II. The first two ceremonies were held in the Pauline Chapel, and since 1983 they have taken place in the Sistine Chapel.