The famous Sistine Chapel is not just the place where popes are elected. But it is also where children are baptized under the legendary work of Michelangelo.
On the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus, Pope Francis baptized 13 children. He gave their parents his customary advice for moments like this.
POPE FRANCIS
Thank God for this grace of becoming Christians. This is something I encourage you to do.
FLASH
As a child, they should learn to pray, at least to do so with their hands, with their gestures...May they learn to pray as children because prayer will be what will give them strength throughout their lives—in good times, to thank God, and in bad times, to find strength.
Despite his knee problems, the Pope remained standing for his homily. It was brief and unexpected. But he tried to make the families feel at home, joking about the gift of children crying.
POPE FRANCIS
Now they’re all quiet, and that’s good. But maybe someone will notice and they'll start again. As children are like a symphony, they'll all join in. Let them cry; let them cry. Maybe one of them cries out for hunger, then breastfeed them—in total freedom.
Baptizing children of Holy See employees in the Sistine Chapel is just one of the many unique traditions the Vatican has.
JRB
TR: KG
