Pope Leo XIV has baptised 20 infants in the Sistine Chapel, marking the conclusion of the Christmas season at the Vatican. The ceremony took place beneath Michelangelo’s renowned frescoed ceiling and featured the families of Vatican employees, who brought their children to receive the sacrament.
In his first baptismal ceremony as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of faith in life. He remarked, “When we know something is essential, we immediately seek it for those we love. Who among us, in fact, would leave a newborn without clothing or nourishment, waiting for them to choose when they grow up how to dress and what to eat?” The Pope further expressed that while food and clothing are vital, faith is even more crucial, stating, “with God, life finds salvation.”
The infants, accompanied by their godparents and siblings, approached a baptismal font designed with a bronze base symbolizing the Tree of Life. The ceremony was notably calm, with minimal fuss from the babies. This annual event celebrates the feast day commemorating the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan, a tradition established by St. John Paul II in 1981.
During the ceremony, each father received a candle, representing the Christian light that guides their path. The Pope concluded his address by wishing the families joy throughout the year and assurance that “the Lord will always accompany your steps.”
This baptismal ceremony not only reinforces a significant religious tradition but also highlights the ongoing commitment of the Catholic Church to nurture faith from the earliest stages of life.
