Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle urged the faithful to embrace the selfless missionary spirit of St. Francis Xavier during the Solemn Mass held at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, India on Dec. 3.
Presiding over the Eucharistic celebration, the prelate encouraged the congregation to be authentic bearers of the Gospel in today’s world, embodying God’s love with humility and zeal, according to a report by Catholic Connect.
The solemn Mass featured the exposition of the sacred relics of St. Francis Xavier and was attended by thousands of pilgrims from across India, alongside dignitaries such as Goa Governor Shri P.S. Sreedharan Pillai and Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant.
Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão of Goa, and other bishops and priests concelebrated the liturgy.
In his homily, Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect for the Section of Evangelization of Dicastery for Evangelization, reflected on the life of St. Francis Xavier, who began as a skeptic of Ignatius of Loyola’s vision but later became a co-founder of the Society of Jesus and one of the Church’s greatest missionaries.
The Cardinal praised the saint’s missionary endeavors in Goa, Malacca, and Japan and his unfulfilled aspiration to evangelize China, a journey cut short by his death on the island of Shangchuan.
“Just love, that is all that mattered. The message emboldened the messenger. The messenger embodied the message,” said Cardinal Tagle, emphasizing that St. Francis Xavier’s mission was rooted in an unshakable love for Jesus Christ.
The Cardinal also highlighted the characteristics of true messengers of the Gospel, drawing parallels with biblical figures such as angels, prophets, and apostles.
He stressed the importance of humility and simplicity while warning against false messengers driven by greed, ambition, or violence. “The Good News is Jesus, the love of the Father who became human as our brother, offering His life for us all,” Cardinal Tagle said.
The Mass was marked by the participation of pilgrims from Pune, Kolhapur, Belgaum, and other parts of India, with many undertaking long journeys on foot to venerate the saint’s relics.
A pilgrim from Kolhapur expressed deep devotion, saying, “St. Francis Xavier inspires us to strengthen our faith and live out the Gospel.”
