Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has called on Marian devotees to embrace Christian hope as a divine gift from God, inspiring them to live with faith and love.
His message was delivered during the first-ever Annual International Marian Festival, held from Jan. 9 to 11, 2025, at the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City.
According to a report by Radio Veritas Asia, the three-day festival, themed “Our Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Mother and Our Model in Our Pilgrimage of Hope,” drew thousands of pilgrims to the shrine, which is a historic and spiritual center for Marian devotion in the Philippines.
The festival featured opportunities for spiritual renewal, acts of charity, and a Marian Conference and Eucharistic Celebration led by Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.
In his homily, the cardinal emphasized the Blessed Virgin Mary as a model of hope and faith, inspiring devotees to deepen their spiritual journey.
“Our Lady invites us to embrace real hope, one that comes only from God,” Tagle told the congregation. He warned against placing trust in fleeting worldly promises, urging the faithful to ground their lives in divine love.
The cardinal also linked his message to the Jubilee Year 2025 theme, “Pilgrims of Hope.” He cautioned against false hopes that lead to pain and division, calling on attendees to align their aspirations for happiness and security with Christ’s teachings.
The festival is part of a larger initiative to position the Antipolo Shrine as a center for Marian studies and cultural heritage in Asia.
Recognized as the first international shrine in the Philippines and Southeast Asia—and the first Marian international shrine in Asia—the site continues to attract millions of pilgrims annually.