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30 October 2007New head of the Catholic See in Moscow was ordained archbishop
Moscow, October 28, Interfax – The ceremony of the consecration of the head of the Catholic Archdiocese Paolo Pezzi as archbishop was held in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Moscow on Saturday.
During the service of consecration, one of the priests addressed Msgr. Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, the predecessor of Msgr. Paolo Pezzi, asking him to consecrate Fr. Paolo as bishop.
“Cling to God with Love, and be the guardian angel for this local Church,” preached Msgr. Kondrusiewicz to his successor.
According to the order, before all present at the ceremony the retiring head of the See proposed the elect several questions concerning his intention to keep good faith, boldly proclaim the Gospel of Christ, be gentle and merciful for Christ’s sake to those who are in need, “as good Shepherd, find your sheep in their days of darkness and ignorance, and bring them to God’s fold.” Paolo Pezzi answered “I will” to all questions.
All the present knelled, the elect lay down prostrate on the floor of the sanctuary, and the clergy and the faithful were then invited to pray that God may bestow the abundance of His grace on Pezzi in his ministry. The book of Gospel was held over the elect’s head.
Thereafter, the book of the Gospels was handed to a new archbishop to remind him of his main duty to preach the Word of God. He also received the bishop ring as a sign of fidelity to Holy Church, the mitre as a symbol of holiness, and the crozier as a sign of his pastoral ministry.
Kondrusiewicz invited the new archbishop to occupy the Episcopal Throne and sat to his right.
When the ceremony was over, the new bishop was congratulated by Catholic and Orthodox clergy, parishioners and his countrymen who came from Italy specially for this purpose.
The youngest members of the Catholic community gave Paolo Pezzi a symbolic cake “made of love and meekness”, according to their words.
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