The Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, has encouraged Filipino faithful to, as a ‘penitential journey,’ participate in the Way of the Cross organized by their local Church, reported Fides.
Priests, religious and faithful of all the vicariate of the diocese will participate in the Way of the Cross seven-kilometer-long procession through the streets of the Filipino capital, which will end in the Basilica of Immaculate Conception, this Good Friday.
«Let us open our eyes and hearts. Let us do something to reduce the impact of disasters. Let us change our lifestyles in order to reduce man-made disasters,» urged the Archbishop of Manila.
Lamenting that families and children living on the street are facing many hardships, the Filipino cardinal expressed his hope «every Catholic faithful is enlightened and inspired to help people who often suffer» because of natural disasters or ongoing conflicts in the nation, and that this procession will be a “penitential journey.”
«We must ask the Lord for forgiveness and to help disadvantaged people,” the cardinal said, noting this includes not just those paralyzed by events such as typhoons, but also those oppressed by corruption, injustice, lack of truth, insensitivity and selfishness.