Pope Francis attended the episcopal ordination of Rome’s new auxiliary bishop and vicegerent at the Basilica of St. John Lateran Thursday afternoon.
Monsignor Renato Tarantelli Baccari, 48, who was appointed auxiliary bishop of Rome and vicegerent of the Diocese of Rome by the pontiff on November 21, 2024, received his episcopal ordination from Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the pope’s vicar for Rome.
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, and Bishop Michele Di Tolve, auxiliary bishop of Rome, served as co-consecrators.
In his homily, Cardinal Reina emphasized three fundamental actions that define a bishop’s vocation: “to indicate, to follow, and to remain.” The cardinal explained that these actions outline both “the vocation of pastors” and “the mission entrusted to Don Renato.”
Tarantelli Baccari, who was ordained a priest by Pope Francis in 2018, will serve as auxiliary bishop for the southern sector of the Diocese of Rome. A canon lawyer by training, he joins four other auxiliary bishops currently serving the Diocese of Rome under Pope Francis, who serves as the diocese’s bishop.
Before the celebration’s conclusion, the newly ordained bishop thanked Pope Francis for “coming here today to your cathedral, among the people of your beloved diocese, this beautiful Church of Rome.”
Tarantelli Baccari recalled the pope’s recommendations for every pastor and “pilgrim of hope”: “Pray always, never tire, always forgive, move forward with courage and don’t lose your smile, and above all, never lose your sense of humor.”
The Diocese of Rome may soon see another episcopal appointment. The diocese’s northern sector remains vacant following Bishop Daniele Salera’s transfer to lead the Diocese of Ivrea. The other sectors are currently assigned: the eastern sector to Bishop Paolo Ricciardi, the western sector to Cardinal Baldassare Reina, and the southern sector to the newly ordained Bishop Tarantelli Baccari.
Vatican sources indicate that the northern sector could be assigned to one of two auxiliary bishops who currently do not oversee a sector: Bishop Michele Di Tolve or Bishop Benoni Ambarus.
This article was first published by ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner, and has been translated and adapted by CNA.
