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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "The face and voice of God are manifested in Jesus’ humanity". Pope Francis returned to St. Peter's Square for the Sunday prayer of the Angelus, on the occasion of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord which, according to the liturgical calendar currently in force in the Catholic Church, marks the end of the Christmas season. This feast commemorates the moment when Christ went to receive the baptism of penance preached and administered by John the Baptist in the Jordan.
What happened on the banks of the Jordan two thousand years ago, the Pontiff stressed, "makes us think of many things, including our own Baptism". Jesus joins His people, who are going to receive baptism for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus goes to be baptized by John, “with a bare soul and bare feet”,", added the Bishop of Rome, citing a liturgical hymn characteristic of today's feast.
And when Jesus receives baptism, "the Spirit manifests Himself and the Epiphany of God occurs; He reveals His face in the Son and makes His voice heard". And it is precisely on the first element that the Pope briefly dwelt. "In revealing Himself to be the Father through the Son, God establishes a special space for entering into dialogue and communion with humanity. It is the face of the beloved Son".
Hence the invitation to reflect: "Are we capable of recognizing His face in Jesus and in our brothers and sisters? And are we accustomed to listening to His voice? Then, the Supreme Pontiff once again asked everyone to "remember the date of your baptism. This is very important! And let us celebrate this date as if it were a new birthday: that of our birth in the Spirit of God."
After the blessing, the thoughts of the Supreme Pontiff went to "the inhabitants of the County of Los Angeles, California, where devastating fires have been raging in recent days. I pray for you all", were the words of the Pope, who then recalled the celebration in the Sistine Chapel that he presided over before the Angelus, during which he baptized 21 newborns, children of employees of the Holy See and the Swiss Guard.
"Let us pray for them, for their families. And I would like to ask the Lord, for all young couples, that they have the joy of welcoming the gift of children and bringing them to Baptism", said the Bishop of Rome, who finally drew attention to the figure of Father Giovanni Merlini, priest of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood (see Fides, 11/1/2025) who was beatified this morning in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran: "Devoted to the missions of his people, he was a prudent advisor to many souls, and a messenger of peace. Let us also invoke his intercession as we pray for peace in Ukraine, in the Middle East and all over the world." (FB) (Agenzia Fides, 12/1/2025)
