The Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin presided at the 11 a.m. Mass in the Fordham University Church at the Rose Hill Campus on Sunday, Sept. 29. Alongside him at the Mass were over 15 other priests and several student altar servers. President Tania Tetlow also participated in the Mass as a cantor and provided a reflection at the end of the service.
Parolin came to New York City to speak at the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of the Holy See to advocate for international peace. Parolin’s homily during the Mass reflected the Vatican’s effort to encourage peace and unity worldwide.
“The Church embraces everyone and excludes no one,” said Parolin. “The stronger our unity with Him, the stronger the unity among us.”
The cardinal also spoke on the importance of extending kindness and grace to others. “As Christians, we are called to follow the example, the teachings and the generosity of Jesus. Unfortunately, we are less generous than our Lord,” said Parolin. “Sometimes, we even envy the good done by others as if their good deeds diminish our own. Our duty as Christians is to extend to others the grace we have received and to encourage the good that is being done, regardless of whether we see credit for either.”
Prayer petitions were offered up for the members of the U.N. General Assembly, for the victims of Hurricane Helene and for refugees and migrants around the world. Parolin also asked the congregation to keep Pope Francis in their prayers as the Vatican advocates for international peace.
In a brief speech given towards the end of Mass, Tetlow reflected on the role of Fordham in educating the next generation of students.
“We teach them that they are loved by God. We teach them to be men and women for others. And we teach them to be messengers of peace,” Tetlow said.
She also thanked the cardinal for visiting Fordham, saying, “Your eminence, you bless us with your presence, and you inspire us in our work, thank you.”
After Mass, all attendees were invited to a reception with cookies, coffee and hot apple cider in Bepler Commons. Members of the church community were encouraged to speak briefly with Parolin and Tetlow as they posed for pictures.
Lauryn Sweeney, FCRH ’25, said, “There was a much bigger crowd today, and they pulled out all the stops for the music and incense and everything.” She also remarked that it was very special to see Parolin as he is integral to ongoing peace talks at the U.N. General Assembly.
One of the altar servers at the Mass, AnnaMarie Pacione, FCRH ’26, shared similar sentiments: “It’s good to be in communion with the greater community and to know that we are praying for peace and that he is here for the U.N. General Assembly, and keeping our mind set on the peacemaking work that he is doing.” Pacione expressed some disappointment with the clericalism of the service and the lack of women involved in the Mass. “It’s inevitable to see where we fall short, but then have hope that we’re moving in a more just and inclusive direction,” he said. “The leading scholar for the women’s diaconate was sitting in the very front [of the pews] and as soon as I walked in and I went past all the priests I made eye contact with her and I was like, ‘Okay there is hope.’”
The women’s diaconate refers to a potential role accepting women as deacons in the Catholic Church. It is one of several more progressive initiatives Pope Francis has expressed interest in since his ascension to the papacy. Dr. Phyllis Zagano, an academic affiliated with Hofstra University, is one of the leading scholars on the women’s diaconate and attended Parolin’s Mass.
Parolin concluded the Mass by thanking the university for hosting him. “I feel very honored to be the second secretary of state to visit this university,” he said. “The only thing that I ask you is to keep united with each other and to keep united in prayer.”
