Pope celebrates Epiphany ordaining four new archbishops

January 07, 2013 - Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday observed a tradition on the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord by consecrating four new bishops at a solemn Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome The four who were conferred the dignity of archbishop are, Angelo Vincenzo Zani, Secretary of the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education; Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Apostolic Nuncio to Nicaragua; Georg Ganswein, Personal Secretary to Pope Benedict XVI and Prefect of the Papal Household; and Nicolas Thevenin, also Apostolic Nuncio in the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See. Epiphany that commemorates the visit of the Three Magi, or Wise Men from the East, to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, symbolizes the manifestation of Christ, the Light of the World to all of humanity, beyond the chosen people of Israel. In his homily at the Mass, Pope Benedict held out the figures of the Three Wise Men as models for the new bishops in their mission. Like the Magi, he said, "the bishop, too, must be a man of restless heart, not satisfied with the ordinary things of this world, but inwardly driven by his heart's unrest to draw ever closer to God, to seek his face, to recognize him more and more, to be able to love him more and more." A bishop must be attentive and watchful, recognizing the gentle voice of God and able to discern the truth, the Pope said. Like the wise men, who probably were ridiculed for following a star in search of the promised king, a bishop must "be filled with the courage of humility, not asking what prevailing opinion says about him, but following the criterion of God's truth and taking his stand accordingly," he said. "Anyone who lives and proclaims the faith of the Church is on many points out of step with the prevalent way of thinking," he said. "The approval of the prevailing wisdom, however, is not the criterion to which we submit," the Pope said. "Today's ruling agnosticism has its own dogmas and is extremely intolerant regarding anything that would question it and the criteria it employs," the Pope said. "Therefore the courage to contradict the prevailing mindset is particularly urgent for a bishop today. He must be courageous," he said. And the bishop “must have the humility to bend down before the God who made himself so tangible and so simple that he contradicts our foolish pride in its reluctance to see God so close and so small," the Pope said.
Pope Benedict said scholars and scientists have debated what kind of light or star the Three Kings were following -- a constellation, a supernova or a comet -- but whatever it was, he said, "the great star, the true supernova that leads us on, is Christ himself." The job of the new bishops, he said, is to lead people on the path to discovering the light that is Christ.
After the Epiphany Mass, Pope Benedict appeared at his studio window to recite the midday “Angelus’ prayer with the faithful gathered below in St. Peter’s Square. Before the prayer, the Pope sent his best wishes to the Eastern Churches many of whom mark Christmas on Jan 7 according to the Julian calendar. The Pope explained that both the birth of Jesus and His Epiphany highlight that the child, born in the humility of the cave of Bethlehem, is the light of the world, which directs the path of all peoples. The Virgin Mary, along with her husband, symbolize the chosen people of Israel, while the Wise Men represent the people, civilizations, cultures and religions that are, so to speak, on the path to God, seeking his kingdom of peace, justice, truth and freedom, the Pope said. He urged for prayers for the four new bishops he consecrated at Sunday’s Epiphany Mass. The Pope also recalled that on the feast of the Epiphany the Church celebrates the Holy Childhood Day, dedicated to children who are engaged in the spread of the Gospel and to make concrete contribution to their needy counterparts around the world. "Dear children,” he said, “I thank you and encourage you: bring the love of God to all." He urged prayers "for each of them for their ministry, and that the light of Christ shine in the whole world." In his greetings in different languages, Benedict XVI greeted the relatives and friends of the new bishops, who came to Rome.