At the altar of the See of the Vatican Basilica, the Cardinal Secretary of State presided over the episcopal ordination of Archbishops Mauricio Rueda Beltz, appointed nuncio to Ivory Coast, who organized the papal trips, and George George Panamhundi, former nunciature councilor to Cyprus, who will be apostolic nuncio to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
Alessandro Di Bussolo – Vatican City
As part of the mission of apostolic nuncios, “it will be your responsibility to promote a genuine ecumenical and interreligious dialogue that advocates the prohibition of any exploitation of religion.” This is one of the pieces of advice to the new representatives of the Pope and the Holy See in Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, addressed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, in the homily at the mass of their episcopal ordination. To Monsignor Mauricio Rueda Beltz, 53 years old, Colombian, former Undersecretary of the Department of Diplomatic Personnel of the Holy See and in the past also organizer of papal trips, and to Monsignor George George Panamthundil, 51 years old, originally from India, previously The Advisor to the Nunciature in Cyprus, Cardinal Parolin, in relation to the readings of the day, asks above all to be “watchmen who test the signs of the times” and “artists of reconciliation” so that “the adopted children of God remain in friendship with them. “the Lord and obtain his grace”.
Guardians who question the signs of the times
According to the State Secretary, by being accepted into the college of bishops with episcopal ordination, one must evaluate the signs of the times “and recognize how much good and beautiful is on the horizon and how much instead represents a danger.” If it were not recognized and stopped , it could cause great harm and destroy the lives of believers.” By remembering the needs of “a healthy Christian life,” you will help all the baptized to “always put the preservation of friendship with the Lord first.” Then Parolin refers to the page of the Gospel of Matthew and recalls the invitation to be “artists of reconciliation”, to distribute divine gifts, forgiveness, inner peace, the presence of the Son of God in the Eucharist and to awaken love for the Church.
Francis sent Monsignor Rueda Beltz, organizer of his apostolic journeys for years, to the African country, while to Pakistan and Kazakhstan he sent his…
Nuncios who bring the Pope’s voice of peace to the States
Furthermore, as nuncios, you will “always uphold the thoughts and words of the Pope,” who, with the charism of truth you have received, will better advance the Church “in fidelity to the authentic tradition, intended not as ashes to be preserved, but as fire.” can be fueled.” To the authorities of the States, Cardinal Parolin continues, “you will bear witness to the Pope’s deep concern for peace and harmonious development, which does not lead to more and more marginalized people remaining on the brink of poverty and without protection.” , or what exacerbates climate imbalances.”
A moment of celebration
At the service of communion and unity, which means no unity
Their presence, the Cardinal reminds, is at the service of “the inestimable good of communion and unity, which does not abolish legitimate differences but harmonizes, purifies and supports them”, so that the particular Churches receive the necessary help from the universal Church and enjoy the right autonomy from it civil powers. This, he emphasizes, “is the great beauty and providence of Catholicism,” which, despite coming from different cultures, languages and traditions, “is united in fundamental things, in prayer, in celebration, in the magisterium in worship.” of all”. A body that is firmly united, but does not convey a “boring and suffocating uniformity”. “In Unitate Trinitatis” is the episcopal motto of Monsignor Panamthundil, recalls Parolin, “a joyful and diverse unity”.
Ivory Coast and Kazakhstan: multi-religious and multi-cultural
Citing the Abu Dhabi Declaration on Human Fraternity of February 2019, the Holy See’s diplomatic chief concluded by emphasizing that “religions never incite war and never give rise to feelings of hatred, hostility or extremism.” Grace be to God, in both Ivory Coast and Kazakhstan, “countries both characterized by strong multiculturalism and multi-confessionalism, these beliefs have found fertile ground and the various religious communities “live in mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.” If everyone follows his example, the cardinal concludes, “a new chapter will be opened in mutual relations, with plenty of room for deeper mutual knowledge and greater cooperation, which will prove to be the best antidote to all extremism and fanaticism”.
The altar of the Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle and Cardinal Parolin at the beginning of the celebration
The greeting and the figures of the two new bishops
In the ordination liturgy, all bishops present lay hands on the elect, starting with the consecrators Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, Major Archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankaras, and Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez, Archbishop Emeritus of Bogota. Monsignor Mauricio Rueda BeltzAt the end of the celebration, he asks the Lord to help him stay close to the “slaves of today” and bring them the light of the Gospel. Previously he was Undersecretary of the Diplomatic Staff of the Holy See and was appointed Titular Archbishop of Cingoli. He was born on January 8, 1970 in Bogotá (Colombia), ordained a priest on December 19, 1996, incardinated in the Archdiocese of Bogotá and completed his studies in canon law. Since July 2004, he has worked in the Holy See’s diplomatic service at the papal missions in Guinea, Chile, the United States of America and Jordan. He was then appointed responsible for organizing apostolic trips in the General Affairs Department of the Secretariat of State. He was subsequently transferred to the Apostolic Nunciature in Portugal and appointed Undersecretary of the Holy See’s Department of Diplomatic Personnel in December 2020.
Monsignor George PanamthundilIn his last greeting as the new bishop, he first thanks God and the Holy Virgin. Then the Syro-Malankara Church, Pope Francis and the State Secretariat with all the nuncios present, the fellow bishops, the religious and the lay believers. Finally his family of origin and friends from Cyprus and the countries where he served. He was previously an advisor to the nunciature and was appointed titular archbishop of Floriana. He was born on May 20, 1972 in the city of Trivandrum (India) and was ordained a priest on February 18, 1998, incardinating in the Syro-Malankaran Archdiocese of Trivandrum. After graduating in Eastern Canon Law, he entered the Holy See’s diplomatic service in July 2005 and served in the Apostolic Nunciature in Costa Rica, Guinea, Iraq, Austria, Israel, the Apostolic Delegation in Jerusalem and Palestine the papal representation in Cyprus.