Vatican City, Jan 6, 2012 / 13:15 pm
As he ordained new apostolic nuncios for Ireland, and Georgia and Armenia on the Jan. 6 feast of Epiphany, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of the “wise men” who sought Christ, as models for bishops today.
“It mattered little what this or that person, what even influential and clever people thought and said about them,” the Pope said of the Magi who journeyed from the East in search of the Messiah. He noted that their role in the Gospels gave “indications concerning the task of bishops” in the Church.
The end of the Christmas liturgical season was the beginning of episcopal ministry for two new archbishops who will represent the Pope in foreign countries: Archbishop Charles J. Brown, apostolic nuncio for Ireland; and Archbishop Marek Solczynski, nuncio to Georgia and Armenia.
During his homily at St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Benedict said the “wise men” of the Gospels should inspire bishops to place God's truth above “human opinion.”