Nearly 1,900 priests, bishops, and cardinals renewed their ordination promise on Holy Thursday during the Chrism Mass led by Pope Francis at the Vatican. 

“Without the Lord’s Spirit, there can be no Christian life,” the pope said in a message posted on Twitter. “Without his anointing, there can be no holiness. It is fitting that today, on the birthday of the priesthood, we acknowledge that He is at the origin of the ministry, the life and vitality of every Pastor.” 

Catholic News Agency reported that the pope expressed gratitude to the priests for their dedication to their ministry and recognized their efforts, which often go unnoticed but bring about a positive impact. 

Every Holy Thursday, the Catholic Church marks the founding of the Eucharist and sacrament of the priesthood during the Last Supper. Pope Francis celebrated a Mass of the Lord's Supper at a youth detention center in Rome, Catholic News Agency added in its report.

During the morning Chrism Mass, the Pope emphasized the significance of the Holy Spirit's role in the life and ministry of priests as he celebrated the "birthday of the priesthood,” the report said.

The Mass readings centered on Jesus saying that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him. In his homily, Pope Francis said that without the Spirit, "there can be no Christian life; without His anointing, there can be no holiness,” the Vatican News reported. 

A Chrism Mass is considered one of the most solemn and significant liturgies of the year. Part of the ceremony focuses on the blessing or consecration of various holy oils used for sacraments throughout the year, Wikipedia explains. The three oils are the Chrism oil, used during baptisms and confirmations; the oil of catechumens, which was once referred to as the oil of exorcism and is used during baptism; and the oil of the sick, which is used during the anointing of the sick.

The Mass was attended by 47 cardinals, 42 bishops, and 1,800 priests living in Rome, Catholic News Agency said.