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Baptism

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa blesses the people with the water he previously collected from the River Jordan. The cardinal presided over the Mass of the Feast of Baptism, on Friday, January 12, near the Jordan River. | Credit: Marinella Bandini

Thousands Gather at Jordan River with Patriarch to Mark Baptism of Jesus

Jan 13, 2024

For 2,000 years, since Jesus descended into the waters of the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist, the river has been a pilgrimage site for Christians from around the world. And on the banks of that river, for the past 24 years, on the second Friday of January, the Catholic community in the region has undertaken a pilgrimage, gathering around its patriarch, to celebrate the baptism of Jesus.

Pope Francis prays the Angelus on Jan. 7, 2024, and offers pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square a reflection on baptism. | Vatican Media

Pope Francis: If You Don’t Know the Date of Your Baptism, Look it Up

Jan 7, 2024

Speaking from the window of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, the pope said on Jan. 7 that the anniversary of one’s baptism should be celebrated each year “like a birthday.”

Pope Francis baptizes a baby at Gemelli Hospital in Rome on March 31, 2023. | Credit: Screen shot of Vatican Media video

Pope Francis Visits Pediatric Oncology Ward at Hospital, Baptizes Newborn Baby

Mar 31, 2023

While staying at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital where he is undergoing treatment for bronchitis, Pope Francis paid a visit Friday to the pediatric oncology ward and baptized a newborn patient.

Archbishop Arthur Roche at a Vatican press conference on Feb. 10, 2015. | Bohumil Petrik/CNA.

Vatican Cardinal Intervenes against German Church’s Plan for Laity to Give Homily, Baptize

Mar 30, 2023

The Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has intervened against the implementation of resolutions of the German Synodal Way that demand lay people should be able to regularly baptize and preach the homily at Holy Mass in churches across Germany. 

Pope Francis greets pilgrims from the popemobile in St. Peter’s Square on March 8, 2023. | Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis: There is no Option to be Passive Catholics when it Comes to Evangelization

Mar 8, 2023

Pope Francis said Wednesday that there is no option to be “passive subjects” when it comes to evangelization because every baptized Catholic has a mission to actively proclaim the Gospel.

Pope Francis baptized 13 babies in the Sistine Chapel on Jan. 8, 2023. | Vatican Media

Celebrate the Date of Your Baptism Like a Birthday: Pope Francis

Jan 8, 2023

Pope Francis baptized babies in the Sistine Chapel on Sunday and encouraged parents to teach their children to celebrate their baptism anniversary each year.

Pope Francis baptizes a child in the Sistine Chapel on Jan. 9, 2021. Screenshot from Vatican News YouTube channel.

Pope Francis Baptizes Babies in Sistine Chapel for 1st Time Since COVID-19 Pandemic

Jan 9, 2022

The pope baptized 16 babies in the Sistine Chapel.

Pope Francis baptizes a child in the Sistine Chapel on Jan. 12, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pandemic Forces Pope Francis to Cancel Annual Baptism Ceremony in Sistine Chapel

Jan 5, 2021

Pope Francis will not baptize babies in the Sistine Chapel this Sunday due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Pope Francis baptized Ervina and Prefina Bangalo on August, Friday 7, 2020. The two-year old conjoined twins had been successfully separated at a Vatican-ran hospital in Rome in June. / Antoinette Montaigne/Twitter.

Pope Francis Baptizes Conjoined African Twins Separated in Rome

Aug 11, 2020

Pope Francis has baptized the African twins who were born conjoined at the head and were separated at the Vatican’s pediatric hospital.

The dome of St. Peter's Basilica. Credit: Luxerendering via Shutterstock.

Baptisms Administered "in name of the community" are Invalid: Vatican

Aug 7, 2020

The Vatican’s doctrinal office issued Thursday a clarification on the sacrament of baptism, stating changes to the formula to emphasize community participation are not permitted.

Francis baptizes a child in the Sistine Chapel on Jan. 12, 2020. / Vatican Media

“The Eucharist is not the finality of baptism,” An African Missionary Cleric Reflects

Jan 14, 2020

Days after the recent Feast of the Baptism of the Lord that marked the conclusion of the Christmas season Sunday January 12, a missionary priest ministering in the West African nation of Togo has questioned the perception among a section of Christians that participating in Holy Mass is “the finality of baptism.”

Pope Francis baptizes a child in the Sistine Chapel on Jan. 12, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis: It Is Beautiful When Babies Cry at Mass

Jan 12, 2020

Pope Francis baptized 32 babies in the Sistine Chapel Sunday, telling parents not to worry if their children cry at Mass.