The Pope baptized 13 newborn children of Vatican employees in the Sistine Chapel, a tradition which coincides with the day the Church celebrates the baptism of Jesus.
BENEDICT XVI The child is not the parents property, but is rather entrusted by the Creator to their responsibility, freely and in an ever new way, so that they help him to be a free child of God.
Benedict XVI called the sacrament of baptism the bridge between God and man, and the way He makes Himself accessible to humanity. He also said it was necessary to establish a relationship between the child and God.
BENEDICT XVI Although with this Sacrament, the newly-baptized become adoptive children of God, object of His infinite love which protects them and defends them from the dark forces of evil, it is still necessary to teach them to recognize God as their Father and to behave towards him as children.
The Pope also told the new parents they needed to find the right balance between forming their children with their own ideas and values, while at the same time giving them the freedom to develop their own personalities and interests.
