Full Breakdown
Pope Leo XIV Ordains Ten Priests, Urges an Open Church Door on Good Shepherd Sunday
4/28/2026, 3:51:26 AM
Ordination and Central Message
On April 26 2026, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the ordination of ten men to the priesthood in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, coinciding with the Fourth Sunday of Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday) and the World Day of Vocations. In his homily, the Pope called the newly ordained to “keep the door open” for a “suffering humanity,” emphasizing that priests must act as “a channel, not a filter” and avoid becoming obstacles to those seeking the Church.
Ordained Clergy
The eight priests assigned to the Diocese of Rome are Guglielmo Lapenna, Giorgio Larosa, Jos Emanuele Nleme Sabate, Giovanni Emanuele Nunziante Salazar, Antonino Ordine, Yordan Camilo Ramos Medina, Daniele Riscica, and Cristian Sguazzino. The remaining two were Armando Roa Núñez, a Mexican incardinated in the Diocese of Miao, India, and Selwyn Pinto Loyce, a Saudi-born member of the Idente Missionaries.
Data and Statistics
- Total priests ordained: 10
- Estimated attendees at the Mass: 5,000 (family and friends)
- Seminarian background: four studied at Rome’s major seminary; four prepared at the Neocatechumenal Way’s Redemptoris Mater Seminary.
- The ceremony marked the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster (1986).
Official Statements & Responses
Pope Leo XIV framed priestly ministry as a service to “everyone and for everyone,” urging priests to maintain an open threshold and to direct others toward the Gospel without “using too many words.” He linked the call to openness with a broader civic responsibility, describing priests as “honest, helpful citizens, builders of peace and social friendship.” The Pope warned that contemporary fears of security can foster aggression and communal closure, advising clergy to find security “not in the role you hold, but in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.” He also highlighted the need to guard celibacy with the same care given to marital love, and he invoked the Chernobyl anniversary as a reminder of responsible stewardship of technology.
Verbatim Quotes
> “Today more than ever, especially when statistics seem to indicate a divide between people and the Church, keep the door open! Let people in, and be prepared to go out. This is another secret for your life: You are a channel, not a filter,” — Pope Leo XIV, Pope
> “This is another secret for your life: You are a channel, not a filter,” — Pope Leo XIV, Pope
> “Jesus does not come as a thief to take away our life and our freedom but to lead us along the paths of righteousness,” — Pope Leo XIV, Pope
> “the love that inspires celibacy for the Kingdom of God must also be guarded and constantly renewed, for every true affection matures and becomes fruitful over time.” — Pope Leo XIV, Pope
> “May your security not lie in the role you hold, but in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as well as in your participation, along with your people, in the story of salvation,” — Pope Leo XIV, Pope
Why It Matters
The Pope’s emphasis on openness directly addresses statistical indications of a growing divide between the faithful and the Church. By framing priests as “channels” rather than “filters,” the homily seeks to reshape pastoral practice toward inclusive outreach, encouraging clergy to engage beyond parish structures and to act as bridges between faith and broader society. The call to guard celibacy and to confront “thieves” of freedom also signals a moral stance on contemporary cultural pressures.
What’s Next
The newly ordained will assume assignments in their respective dioceses and congregations, beginning ministry in communities identified as “gardens of life.” The Church will continue observances of the World Day of Vocations and will likely reference the Pope’s Good Shepherd Sunday message in upcoming general audiences and diocesan initiatives.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources present a consistent account of the ordination and the Pope’s remarks; no contradictory statements or missing details were identified.
