Archbishop Rino Fisichella presents Pope Francis’s sermon during Holy Mass for the Jubilee of Deacons, in which he exhorts deacons to be builders of unity, selfless servants, and apostles of forgiveness. While the Pope is still receiving treatment at Gemelli Hospital for his bilateral pneumonia, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, celebrated the Mass. The pope’s homily reads, “indeed, forgiveness is an indispensable element of every ecclesial vocation and a requirement of every human relationship.”
On February 23, in a historic ceremony 23 men from eight different countries were ordained as permanent deacons. The ceremony attracted a large international audience, with Italy sending the largest delegation, followed by 1,300 deacons from the United States, 656 from France, and significant groups from other countries.
The pope’s message urged deacons to view their ministry as a transformative experience, benefiting both themselves and society. “Through your ministry, you devote yourselves to being ‘sculptors’ and ‘painters’ of the merciful face of the Father, and witnesses to the mystery of the Triune God,” the Pope urged. The Mass marked a key moment in the ongoing jubilee year, with the pope highlighting that ordination is “not an ascent but a descent,” urging deacons to embrace humility and make themselves “small” in their service to others. The pope ended the homily by commending the deacons to the care of the Virgin Mary and St. Lawrence, urging them to be “apostles of forgiveness, selfless servants of our brothers and sisters, and builders of communion.”