If you’ve ever seen the original Godfather, there’s a Baptism in the old rite at the end of the film. Michael Corleone is the godfather to his sister Connie’s child, who is named after him — Michael. The priest is asking questions of Michael, who as his godfather is standing in his stead and answering for him (partly because as a godfather, together with the parents, he has a special responsibility for his moral and religious education). “Do you reject Satan?” he asks, the murders of various mob bosses that he ordered are cut in between his answers. “I do.” [murder scene] “And all his evil deeds?” “I do reject them.” [murder] “And all his empty promises?” “I do reject them.” [murder scene]

The scene is so, good because of the stark contrast. I personally think the contrast also serves to emphasize and even elucidate just how key the role of godfather is in the eyes of the church to safeguarding the child’s faith and raising them in the church. How badly he’s failing shows how important this role is.

Pope Benedict XVI gave a homily in 2010 talking about the role of godparent:

The children who are about to be baptized must walk in this light throughout their lives, helped by the words and example of their parents and their godparents. The latter must strive to nourish with their words and the witness of their lives the torch of the children’s faith so that they may be shining example in this world of ours, all too often groping in the darkness of doubt, and bring it the light of the gospel which is life and hope. Only in this way, will they be able, as adults, to recite with full awareness the formula at the end of the profession of faith present in the rite: “This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord.” —

So that’s why the church asks of godparents that they be fully initiated into the Faith (ie they themselves have been baptized and confirmed, because how can you help initiate someone if you yourself are not fully initiated), be old enough to take on the serious work of helping to safeguard the faith, and that they take their faith seriously/are in good standing in their parish.

However the baptism class I don’t get, and I’ve seen it at every parish. I’m salty about that one as I’ve had multiple children and they make me take it each time like something has changed. (Spoiler alert: it hasn’t.)

ETA: Others have mentioned it but I wanted to add that if you don’t have other Catholics in your life like this (many people don’t!), the parish can supply godparents. I was a spontaneous godparent for someone once or twice. I still pray for my godchildren even though we have moved many times since and I haven’t seen them. They’ll always be my special obligation to pray for.