Bishops Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag, Alfred Xuereb, and José Avelino Bettencourt lie on the floor as Pope Francis leads a Mass during their ordination ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Monday, March 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis is cautioning bishops to avoid politicking, business and high society.
Francis elevated to bishops' rank three priests during a ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica on Monday evening.
He said bishops should "abandon the temptation to become princes," and that they are tasked "more with serving than dominating." He told them to be available to priests in their jurisdiction "the same day, or at most, the next day" after being sought.
Francis told the three they were chosen "not for business, not for high society, not for politics." In his five years as pope, Francis has insisted clerics must serve the rank-and-file and avoid seeking glory.
The new bishops are: Monsignors Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag from Pelplin diocese, Poland; Alfred Xuereb, Gozo diocese, Malta; and Jose Avelino Bettencourt, Ottawa archdiocese in Canada.
Pope Francis ordains bishop José Avelino Bettencourt, as he celebrates a mass during which he conferred the ordination to 3 bishops in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Monday, March 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
Bishops touch the head of the three newly ordained bishops, from left, Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag, Alfred Xuereb, and José Avelino Bettencourt, as Pope Francis celebrates a mass during which he conferred the ordination to the 3 bishops in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Monday, March 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis celebrates a mass during which he conferred the ordination to 3 bishops in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Monday, March 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis ordains bishop Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag as he celebrates a mass during which he conferred the ordination to 3 bishops in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Monday, March 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis celebrates a mass during which he conferred the ordination to 3 bishops in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Monday, March 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press