Karlo Broussard – Catholic Answers Article –
What’s interesting is that when you read the Last Supper narratives in the synoptic Gospels you don’t find Jesus ordaining the apostles. You’re left wondering, “Where does the Catholic Church get off thinking that Jesus made the apostles priests at the Last Supper?”
The answer, according to the Council of Trent, lies in Jesus’ command, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). The Council fathers declare: ” If anyone shall say that by the words ‘Do this in commemoration of me’ Christ did not institute the apostles priests, or did not ordain that they and other priests should offer his body and blood: let him be anathema” (Council of Trent, session 22, ch. 1).
There are two other reasons why we can conclude that Jesus intended his apostles to be priests, which admittedly are not as conclusive as the first. They are: (1) Jesus washes the apostles’ feet (John 13:5) and (2) Jesus speaks of the apostles taking “part” in him through the ritual washing (John 13:8).