Australian John Vespa entered St Peter’s Basilica on Friday a deacon and left a priest, ordained by Pope Leo XIV himself.
In a special Mass marking the end of the Jubilee of Priests, Pope Leo ordained 32 men to the priesthood, including the Melbourne-born Fr Vespa, and urged them to be faithful witnesses of service.
The deeply moving celebration took place on the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and was attended by Fr Vespa’s parents and three siblings, the Archbishop of Melbourne Peter A Comensoli, and the Rector and Vice-rector of Corpus Christi College, where Fr Vespa studied, Fr Cameron Forbes and Fr Brian Nichols. Other family and friends also flew in from around the world to support Fr Vespa, including parishioners from St Bede’s, Balwyn, and St Francis of Assisi, Mill Park.
St Peter’s was packed for the ceremony, the pews a sea of white as priests from all over the world gathered for the Mass on a day which also marked the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests.
The Rite of Ordination began with each candidate for priesthood called by name. ‘Eccomi’, each one replied, ‘present’. Pope Leo ascertained that they were ‘worthy’ to be ordained and began his homily, whose central theme was unity.
Priests are called to be embraced and shaped by God’s boundless love, and to realise that there is no place for division and hatred of any kind, Pope Leo XIV said. ‘Reconciled with one another, united and transformed by the love that flows abundantly from the Heart of Christ, let us walk together humbly and resolutely in his footsteps, firm in faith and open to all in charity.’
The 32 ordained by the Pope came from Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe and Oceania. Fr Vespa was the only Australian, and the only one from the region. Nine African countries were represented, along with others as diverse as Slovakia, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean archipelago St Vincent and the Grenadines.
We are called ... to foster in our hearts the desire that no one be lost but that everyone, also through our ministry, may come to know Christ and have eternal life in him.
Pope Leo acknowledged that the day of their ordination was ‘unique’. He spoke of being immersed once more in the Heart of the Saviour, there at the tomb of the Apostle Peter.
‘To speak of the Heart of Christ in this context is to reflect on the entire mystery of the Lord’s incarnation, death and resurrection, which is entrusted in a special way to us, so that we can make it present in our world. Let us reflect on how we can contribute to this work of salvation.
‘We are called to exercise pastoral charity with a generous love, like that of the Father, and to foster in our hearts the desire that no one be lost but that everyone, also through our ministry, may come to know Christ and have eternal life in him.
‘We are called to deepen our closeness to Jesus and to be a source of harmony in the midst of our brother priests. And to do all this in a great exchange of love that, flowing from the pierced side of the crucified Lord, embraces all people and fills the entire world.
‘The more we are united among ourselves, the more we will be able to lead others to the fold of the Good Shepherd, and to live as brothers and sisters in the one house of the Father.’
Addressing the ordinands directly, the Pope said he had something to tell them that was important for their future and for those entrusted to their care: ‘Love God and your brothers and sisters, and give yourselves to them generously.
‘Be fervent in your celebration of the sacraments, in prayer, especially in adoration before the Eucharist, and in your ministry.
‘Keep close to your flock, give freely of your time and energy to everyone, without reserve and without partiality, as the pierced side of the crucified Jesus and the example of the saints teach us to do.’
One by one the ordinands then approached Pope Leo, declared their willingness to carry our their duties as a priest and promised respect and obedience to their superiors in the Church.
Next came the litany of saints, where the ordinands lie prostrate in prayer, invoking the intercession of the saints and angels.
Ahead of his ordination, Fr John Vespa shared with Melbourne Catholic that this moment would be one of the most important to him.
Keep close to your flock, give freely of your time and energy to everyone, without reserve and without partiality, as the pierced side of the crucified Jesus and the example of the saints teach us to do.
In one of the most poignant moments of the ceremony, Pope Leo imposed his hands on each ordinand’s head as they knelt before him. Ten priests then did the same to each ordinand, following an ancient ritual invoking the Holy Spirit.
The prayer of ordination followed, and then the investiture of the stole and chasuble, symbolising the office of the priesthood. Fr Cameron Forbes was on hand to assist the newly ordained Fr Vespa with his vestments. The ordinands then knelt before Pope Leo once more, for the anointing of hands and handing over of bread and wine.
Finally, those watching in St Peter’s Basilica and on the livestream around the world saw the ordination sealed with gestures of peace between the newly ordained, Pope Leo and other priests present.
Archbishop Comensoli expressed his joy at being in Rome with Fr Vespa and his family for his ordination, sharing photos of the liturgy to his social media.
‘Fr John, like your namesake, may you always rest close to the heart of Jesus and may always you live a life worthy of your vocation, laying down your life for your sheep,’ the Archbishop wrote.
The following day, friends and family gathered at the St Peter Chanel Chapel in Domus Australia as Fr Vespa celebrated his Mass of Thanksgiving.
Melbourne’s newest priest is expected to visit family in Italy’s southern region of Abruzzo before returning home to begin his ministry.
Banner image: Pope Leo XIV anoints the hands of Fr John Vespa. (Photo by Vatican Media.)
