The head of Manila’s Roman Catholic Church criticized the lack of respect for the human person created in God’s image during a mass celebrating the Feast of the Black Nazarene in the Philippine’s yesterday.
During his homily, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle conveyed his hopes and fears regarding violence and attacks on the family.
«There are many reports about killing. Life is sacred… it should be respected,» Cardinal Tagle said to hundreds of thousands of devotees at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
The cardinal emphasized the importance in these modern days to show value for life amid numerous incidents of killings, shootouts, and death. «Also, the money that can be used to feed the people and build houses and schools are being spent to kill.»
Cardinal Tagle called on the Filipino faithful to witness the hope of the Gospel in their daily lives as the Catholic Church observes the Year of Faith. «Real devotees of the Black Nazarene can be determined through the deepness of his faith,» Cardinal Tagle said.
«The real devotees will fight falsities which destroy not only the people and community, but the son of God. That should not happen!» he added.
The Mass followed with a procession of a 406 year old image of a dark-skinned Jesus Christ which is said to have been sculpted in Mexico and believed to be miraculous.
Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio, rector of the Quiapo Church where the mass was held, stated that while no official numbers have been released, he believes that it could be more than the 8 million people who attended the same event last year.
