Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle said corruption contradicts God’s plan as he led the Simbang Gabi Mass for Filipinos at St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday.
With Christmas near, Tagle urged the faithful to align life decisions with God’s will, rejecting consumerism, personal gain, and shallow measures of success.
“When the opportunity to steal and cheat comes knocking, why are so many wide awake? When the plan is corruption, no one sleeps. But when it is God’s plan, everyone is asleep,” said Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.
He called on Filipinos to examine whether their ambitions reflect God’s saving plan revealed in Jesus.
“Is your life plan connected to God’s plan? Or perhaps our plans in life lead only to destruction—bringing harm to ourselves, to others, to society, and to creation?” Tagle said.
The cardinal pointed to the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph as models of faithful planning, describing them as the original witnesses of Advent and Christmas who adjusted their lives in obedience to God.
He also said Christmas should not be reduced to memories, material pursuits or financial goals, but lived daily through faith, service and moral responsibility.
“We were not created to cling to piles of money. We were not created to cling to countless followers. We were not created to hoard all kinds of things to buy, only to realize afterward that we do not really need them,” Tagle added.
More than a thousand Filipinos from across Rome and other countries attended the Mass, filling the basilica with hymns and prayers reflecting a deeply rooted Advent tradition.
The celebration was organized by the Sentro Pilipino Chaplaincy (SPC) in Rome and drew clergy, religious, and lay faithful, including Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See Myla Grace Macahilig and Philippine Ambassador to Italy Nathaniel Imperial.
Fr. Ronan Ayag, SPC chaplain, said the Simbang Gabi celebration is especially meaningful for Filipino migrants in Rome.
“This is important for us Filipino migrants in the Diocese of Rome,” Ayag said. “It strengthens our faith, especially since we are far from our loved ones as Christmas approaches, and it gives guidance to our faith.”
