Vatican City: Father John Vespa, a newly ordained priest from Melbourne, Australia, has described his journey to the priesthood as one marked by divine providence, culminating in a deeply moving ordination by Pope Leo XIV at St. Peter’s Basilica. Vespa was one of thirty-two deacons from around the globe ordained on June 27, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, during the Jubilee of Priests a day he believes was no accident, but a sacred appointment.
The moment was especially meaningful for Fr. Vespa, whose call to the priesthood has long been intertwined with the city of Rome. “I know that God’s hand has always been at work,” he said, reflecting on the surprising yet profound journey that led him to the heart of the Catholic world.
Earlier this year, while studying at Corpus Christi College in Melbourne, Vespa and his fellow deacons were invited to consider putting their names forward for a special papal ordination in Rome. Encouraged by his seminary mentors, Vespa took the invitation to prayer.
“I spent a weekend in reflection, discerning with the Lord,” he recalled. “I thought of all of us, laying down our lives together as priests. It felt right.” After prayerful consideration, he submitted his name to Archbishop Peter Comensoli of Melbourne. Weeks later, on June 3, an unexpected message arrived: the Dicastery for Evangelization had selected him to represent Australia.
With only weeks to prepare, Vespa quickly arranged for travel and invited family and close friends to witness this once-in-a-lifetime moment in the Eternal City.
Being ordained on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was especially symbolic for Vespa. “The Sacred Heart is the image of the priest’s heart overflowing with love, mercy, and sacrifice,” he said. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, he added that the priesthood is “born from the heart of Christ,” making this feast day a profoundly fitting moment to begin his ministry.
He expressed gratitude not only for the ordination itself but also for the setting and timing—moments that he believes were providential and deeply personal.
Fr. Vespa’s connection to St. Peter’s Basilica dates back to 2018, when he visited Rome with his family. It was there, in front of Michelangelo’s Pietà, that he told his mother he had applied to enter the seminary. Later that same day, he shared the news with his father in St. Peter’s Square. That pilgrimage became the seedbed for a journey that has now come full circle.
“Coming back to the same place, years later, to be ordained it’s like God writing the last chapter of one part of the story and opening another,” he said. For Vespa and his family, the experience carried deep emotional weight. “It’s not just a special blessing for me, but for all the people of God who’ve been part of this journey.”
Now ordained, Fr. Vespa says he’s returning to Australia not only with memories etched in his heart, but also with inspiration to guide his ministry. “I hope to carry the wisdom of the Pope’s homily into my daily life as a priest,” he said. “It’s not just about the moment it’s about how we live out our priesthood with humility, with love, and with hearts that reflect Christ.”
As he begins his priestly mission, Fr. Vespa stands as a reminder that vocations are often nourished in quiet moments and unexpected places but when entrusted to God, they can blossom in the most sacred and powerful ways.