Pope Francis stresses the importance of faith and joy in the family

On January 12, Pope Francis celebrated an emotional rite in the Sistine Chapel, where he administered the Sacrament of Baptism to 21 children, children of Vatican employees. In an atmosphere full of freshness and art, Francis said with warmth and simplicity: “Today they are in charge,” referring to the little ones, and stressed that the mission of adults is to serve them, in particular through the sacrament and prayer. He also recommended that mothers attend to the basic needs of children, such as feeding them or changing them if necessary.

“The greatest gift is the gift of faith”

In his homily, the Pope recalled that parents, together with the Church, give children the greatest of gifts: the gift of faith. During the ceremony, parents brought their children to the Pope, who gave them the sign of the cross on their foreheads. Amid laughter and tears, the celebration was accompanied by the soft melodies of the Schola Cantorum, which enthralled the little ones as the liturgy progressed.

In his homily, Pope Francis expressed his wish that the children grow in faith and in the joy of the family, to live a true humanity. “May they grow in faith,” said the Holy Father, transmitting a message of hope for the future of the Church and the world.

The ceremony continues with the traditional rituals of Baptism

As the celebration progressed, Cardinals Konrad Krajewski and Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, together with the Pope, continued with the rituals of Baptism. First, they marked the children’s chests with the oil of catechumens, followed by the rite of anointing with holy chrism. Each child was baptized with holy water, and the parents lit candles from the Easter candle, as a symbol of the light of Christ that will accompany their children throughout their lives.

An act of faith and family unity

The Pope also performed the rite of “Effata”, recalling the miracle of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, touching the ears and lips of the children to bless them. At the end of the celebration, Francis greeted the families and gave them a small gift, reminding them to always carry the light of Baptism in their homes and, in times of difficulty, to light that light as a symbol of divine grace.

This act, which is part of a tradition established by John Paul II in 1981, has been celebrated in the Sistine Chapel since 1983. Every year, Pope Francis continues with this beautiful gesture of faith, reinforcing the value of the family and Christian education from the first moments of life.