To my knowledge, the deacons are the “proper ministers of the cup” but the priests, if present, are supposed to distribute the consecrated hosts. The bishop can go sit down while the priests distribute communion because they are, after all, his delegates, but the deacons are handed the chalice and that is what they do (along with 10 or 15 EMCH’s, generally).
I think it’s very strange and it doesn’t bode well for priests under Pope Francis. Removing them from giving communion to their people is not a good move, IMHO.
I hope that priests aren’t removed from distributing Communion in our case where we have no deacons and no “EMCHs”! — glad I don’t know what that is. Extra-Marital something?
livius, deacons are ordinary ministers of the eucharist along with priests so they can administer either the Chalice or the Blessed Sacrament.
Moreover, when a bishop celebrates Mass, the other ministers who officiate with him are his two deacons. The other clergy, whether they be priests or bishops are “only” concelebrants, or they are deacons, priests or bishops who attend in choir.
It is normal that if the celebrating bishop does not distribute Holy Communion to the laity that his deacons do so, because the deacons are “the bishop’s men”, and by receiving from the deacons the congregation are effectively receiving from the bishop himself. Concelebrating priests and bishops “communicate themselves” directly from the altar either before or while Communion is distributed to the congregation.
I must confess, it usually throws me for a moment when I am officiating at Mass with my bishop. It’s a similar principle to the officiating deacons coming at the back of the procession with the bishop, behind all the other clergy - even if that were to include Cardinals.
What concerns me more about this video is that the Pope is obviously not physically able to genuflect - no doubt because of the pins in his knee - nor is he able to remain standing long enough to distribute Holy Communion to the congregation. A number of times he was steadied by the hands of Mgr Marini - his mobility is not great. I do wonder how long he’s got to clean out the stables?