The Pope’s Apostolic Blessing is certainly one of the most appreciated gifts by believers, as it reminds them of their closeness to the Catholic Church and the fact that the related donation will be used to help others.
There are many occasions where one can give this particular type of Blessing (as mentioned in this article), one of which, however, concerns Priestly Ordination, a very important milestone for all those who have decided to give their soul and body to Jesus Christ Our Lord.
What is Priestly Ordination?
It is a rite typical of the Catholic and Orthodox Church, which provides for the priestly consecration of men chosen to perform the ordained ministry by serving as presbyters. This ceremony is necessary so that priests can perform all sacraments and pastoral duties with absolute validity.
This long process is divided into three introductory steps:
- Presentation and Election
- Interrogation and Promise of Obedience
- Litany of the Saints
All followed by the actual Ordination through:
- Laying on of Hands
- Consecratory prayer
The process concludes through a series of explanatory Rites, from the Vesting of priestly garments to the Embrace of Peace, obviously without forgetting the Chrismal Anointing and the Presentation of the Bread and Wine.
How to request the Blessing
So, if you have decided to give your newly ordained Priest friend or relative this special gift, here is how to request the Pope’s Apostolic Blessing for Priestly Ordination through the Office of Papal Charities.
In person: One of the ways to request the Holy Father’s Blessing and the corresponding parchment is quite simple. In fact, you just need to go to the Vatican offices of the Apostolic Elemosineria (at the Sant’Anna Gate) during the scheduled opening hours: 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM (from Monday to Saturday).
Online: If going in person is difficult, no problem! The Vatican Elemosineria has created a dedicated website, which, through a guided procedure, will make everything easier.
By Mail or Fax: If you prefer to use traditional methods, you can submit the request for the Pope’s Apostolic Blessing for Priestly Ordination (here is the form) containing the necessary details:
- Full name of the applicant;
- Full name of the recipient of the Blessing;
- Reason for the request;
- Date, name of the Church, and location where the Sacrament took place;
- Address to which the diploma and the related payment amount should be sent.
All of this should be forwarded to:
Apostolic ElemosineriaParchment Office00120 Vatican City
Or to the Fax number (active 24/7): (+39) 06.69883132
Costs
Receiving the Pope’s Apostolic Blessing is a practice that requires a certain amount of money. This will be used by the Apostolic Elemosineria to carry out charitable acts. The cost is divided as follows:
- parchment (from 13 to 25 euros depending on the model chosen);
- shipping costs: 7 euros for regular mail / 13 euros for delivery via express courier (DHL).
The payment must be sent exclusively after receiving the parchment, and can be made via credit/debit card or through a postal slip (enclosed with the shipment).
If you are interested in further details regarding the Holy Father’s Blessing or would like to learn more about Saints and Religious Events, we invite you to follow us on our website and social media profiles.
