Pope ordains two bishops

October 25, 2013 - Love the priests and deacons, the poor and the defenceless, and watch over your flock with love. These were some of the exhortations of Pope Francis to the first two bishops he ordained Thursday afternoon in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica. Giampiero Gloder, president of the Vatican's prestigious diplomatic school known as the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy and Jean-Marie Speich, the Holy See’s new Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, are the first two bishops that Pope Francis ordained in his pontificate since his election on March 13. While asking the newly ordained a list of questions as prescribed the rite of episcopal ordination, Pope Francis spontaneously added a few of his own. In his homily the Pope noted that bishops, as guardians and dispenser of the ministries of Christ, are called to follow the example of the Good Shepherd and to serve the people of God. The Pope reminded the new bishops that “the episcopate, in fact, is the name of a service, not of honour.” This service is nourished by prayer and the Word of God. “A bishop who does not pray is half-hearted,” the Pope said, adding, “ If you don’t pray to the Lord you will end up in worldliness."