Friday, November 15, 2013

Francis entrusts Fernando Vergez Alzaga with the spiritual care of Vatican employees



Francis presided this afternoon’s mass for the Episcopal ordination of Fernando Vergez Alzaga despite coming down with a cold which drove him to cancel today’s morning audiences.

“You are specially entrusted with the spiritual care of Vatican employees, but you are their father and brother, with great love: always follow the example of the Good Shepherd,” Pope Francis told the Secretary General of the Vatican Governorate, Mgr. Fernando Vergez Alzaga, during this Episcopal ordination mass he celebrated this afternoon in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The Pope presided the mass for Vergez Alzaga’s Episcopal ordination despite coming down with a cold which led him to cancel some audiences he had scheduled for this morning.

Sixty-eight-year old Fernando Vergez Alzaga hails from Spain (he was born on 1 March 1945) and was ordained priest on 26 November 1969: a member of the congregation of the Legion of Christ, he has a licence, or degree, in Philosophy and Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and a diploma from the Vatican Secret Archive’s archivist school.

In 1972 he began serving the Holy See through the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Twelve years later he was transferred to the Pontifical Council for the Laity ; in 1994 he became head of the Holy See’s Internet Office.

In 2008 he was put in charge of Vatican State telecommunications. Last 30 August the Pope nominated him secretary General of the Governorate. He was elected titular bishop of Villamagna di Proconsolare on 15 October.

Upon calling the newly ordained bishop to take on this role of great responsibility within the Church, in his homily, Francis said: “Reflect on the fact that you have been chosen from among men for men and that a bishop is called to serve rather than to rule.”

“By service I mean that great service of love and charity that you offered Cardinal Pironio,” Francis said.

Eduardo Francisco Pironio is an Argentinean cardinal and a friend of Bergoglio’s.

Vergez Alzaga served him as secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity in the 80s; “I am sure he is here with us at this very moment – he said sounding moved – uniting us in the Church. I thank you once again for your humble and silent service. You served as a son and as a brother.”

Francis joyfully recalled Vergez Alzaga’s friendship with Cardinal Quarracino who loved the newly ordained bishop very much.

Antonio Quarracino was the future Pope’s predecessor in the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires.

“Hearing these beautiful canticles, I must confess that I cannot but think of the singing of the Benedictine nuns who are here at this ceremony today. You are well accompanied!” Francis concluded.