Pope ordaining 19 new priests on Vocation Sunday

(May 2, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI will ordain 19 new priests for his diocese of Rome at a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday. As the head of the worldwide Catholic Church, the Pope is the bishop of Rome, successor to St. Peter the first bishop of Rome. As a priest and bishop, the Pope exercises various priestly and episcopal ministries during the year, such as baptizing infants on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January, baptizing adults during Easter Vigil Mass which includes also the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. At times, he also sits at the confessional in St. Peter’s Basilica during the Holy Week. Sunday’s priestly ordinations by the Pope are taking place on the 46^th World Day of Prayer for Vocations for which the Pope had earlier issued a message on the theme, "Faith in the Divine Initiative - The Human Response." In the message the Pope said that embracing a religious vocation is not about feeling worthy or strong enough to be one of God's privileged ministers and witnesses. Rather, it is about trusting God so much that one can answer God's divine call without hesitation. The World Day of Prayer for Vocations is observed every year on the fourth Sunday of Easter.