New Legion Priests Ordained

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican’s former Secretary of State, ordained 49 Legionaries of Christ to the priesthood Dec. 20.

Pope Benedict XVI greeted the new priests after praying the Angelus yesterday at noon at St. Peter’s Square.

Said the Pope, “Dear friends, may the love of Christ, that moved St. Paul in his mission, always animate your ministry. I bless you and your loved ones from my heart!”

The 49 new priests come from 13 countries, including four from the United States.

They discuss the story of their vocations in a book entitled “Living for Christ” that can be viewed here.

More than 3,000 people participated in the Dec. 20 ordination at St. Paul Outside the Walls.

In his homily at the ordination, Cardinal Sodano said to the new priests, “Beloved Legionaries of Christ, you too have been chosen by Christ to go and bear fruit, just as so many of your brother Legionaries of Christ have done, so many generous priests that you have met along your way.”

Added Cardinal Sodano, “In reality what St. Joseph Cafasso, the confessor of St. John Bosco and a holy priest from my homeland in Piamonte, once said still holds true: A whole eternity wouldn’t suffice to thank God for having called us to his service.”

— Tom McFeely