Pope Francis baptizes 13 girls and boys in the Sistine Chapel

The Pope Francisco today highlighted the importance of baptism, a sacrament that should be celebrated “like a new birthday” because it means the “reborn to the Christian life”, during the ceremony in which he baptized 13 girls and boys who, surprisingly, barely cried in the Sistine Chapel.

This ceremony, full of rites, commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the waters of the Jordan River and is one of the few that take place in the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican, under the frescoes of Michelangelo and where the conclaves to elect the pope are held. .

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The pontiff expressed his gratitude to the parents of the baptized, employees of the Vatican State, for making them “enter the church“and asked them to celebrate this date”like a new birthday” so that the children “give thanks for the grace of being Christians”.

Pope Francis performing a series of baptisms during the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. (Photo by The Vatican Media / AFP) (HANDOUT /)

”These children begin a path, it is up to you to help them move forward”, said Francisco in a brief homily that he delivered improvised and in which he addressed especially the parents and godparents of the little ones.

It is up to them -he stressed-that children learn to pray because it will be what gives them strength throughout their lives, in good times and in bad times”, especially to the Virgin, “what is our mother” Y “the mother is always closer than the father, it is like that”.

”That they learn to be Christians”, said the pontiff, who joked: “Now they are quiet, but someone will give the ‘la’, and since they are symphonic they will go one after the other”, although finally their cries were barely noticeable between the high walls of the Sistine Chapel, under the frescoes of Michelangelo’s Last Judgment.

The Pope also wanted to reassure the parents so that they would not worry if the little ones, 8 girls and 5 boys, were uncomfortable with a long ceremony and in an environment that is not usual for them, so he asked them to do everything possible to make them feel good.

Pope Francis performing a series of baptisms during the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. (Photo by The Vatican Media / AFP) (HANDOUT /)

”If they cry from hunger, breastfeed freely, the important thing is that today is a party (…) we celebrate the beginning of the journey”, she told the mothers, encouraging them to breastfeed their babies if necessary.

During the ceremony, which began with the sign of the cross made by the pope to the babies, they received an anointing on their chests by the two concelebrants: the apostolic beggar, the Polish cardinal Konrad Krajewski, and the president of the Governorate of the State of Vatican City, the Spanish Bishop Fernando Vérgez.

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Then the administration of baptism took place, when the water was poured over the heads of the little ones, which was also carried out personally by the Pope in the baptismal font while the little ones, curiously and somewhat unusually, remained silent.

Subsequently, the children were dressed in a white tunic, a symbol of new life after baptism, and then each parent approached the Paschal Candle located near the pope to light a candle for each baptized, whose mouth was touched by the concelebrants and the ears in the last of the rites of this long ceremony.

Later, Francisco, despite his mobility problems, walked with a cane to talk with the parents and siblings of the baptized, with whom he took some photos.

Source: Elcomercio