VATICAN - Episcopal Ordination: “It is time for mission: the Lord sends you, dear friends, into his harvest”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Saturday, 5 February, in St Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father Benedict XVI conferred Episcopal Ordination upon the following five priests: Msgr. Savio Hon Tai-Fai, of the Salesian Society of St John Bosco, appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples; Msgr. Marcello Bartolucci, appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints; Msgr. Celso Morga Iruzubieta, appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy; Msgr. Antonio Guido Filipazzi, appointed Apostolic Nuncio, and Msgr. Edgar Pena Parra, appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan. Assisting the Holy Father were, Card. Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals and Card. Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State.
“It is time for mission: the Lord sends you, dear friends, into his harvest” said the Pope in his Homily, explaining that “the work of the harvest in the field of the Lord, in the field of human history” is that which “brings the light of truth to humankind.... It brings them the good news that it is not only words, but an event: God, Himself, has come among us.” Even today “the work in God's field is particularly urgent,” said Benedict XVI and “the labourers are few”, that God can only come through “the door of our prayer.” “So this time of thanksgiving for the realisation of being sent on mission is, in particular, also the hour of prayer: Lord, send workers into your harvest!” The Pope then recalled the two definitions of the mission of Bishops from the Liturgy: “that of being labourers in the harvest of world history with the task of healing, of opening the doors of the world to the Lordship of God that His will of may be done on earth as in heaven; ... and that of co-operating in the mission of Jesus Christ”.
Recalling the theme chosen by the Christian Communities of Jerusalem for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity this year - “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and in fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42) - the Pope then stressed that, “in these four basic elements of the Church's being, the essential task of its Pastors is also being described.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 7/02/2011)