Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle on Tuesday called on Cebu’s new archbishop and the faithful to “look for Jesus” in the faces of others and in the realities of daily life.
Speaking at the installation Mass of Archbishop Alberto Uy at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Tagle said Christ is present even in brokenness and despair.
“Look for Jesus always… in the frustration of the youth, in the hopes and dreams of the afflicted, in social media, in the cry of denuded hills and polluted waterways,” Tagle said in his homily. “Jesus is not lost. He’s always there waiting to be found.”
The pro-prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization urged Uy to see Christ especially in those often ignored.
“There are many people who have been forgotten, neglected, ignored, imprisoned, lost, waiting to be found again,” he said. “Find the Christ Jesus in each other, in every situation that becomes the Jerusalem of mission. Do all for the sake of the Gospel.”
He also cautioned against self-absorption when feeling lost. “When you yourselves feel lost, please do not run around trying to find yourself,” he said. “Be still and wait to be found.”
The former Manila archbishop expressed hope that the Cebu archdiocese would embrace its new shepherd and one another in a spirit of openness.
“I hope that families, neighborhoods, parishes, convents, schools, hospitals, and institutions of Cebu would welcome the new archbishop,” Tagle said. “I also hope that the new archbishop would welcome everyone.”
He also called on the clergy and lay faithful alike to foster dialogue and respect.
“I hope that all in the archdiocese would welcome each other, talk with each other, learn from each other — especially from those who differ from us. Refrain from wishing ill of others,” Tagle said.
Uy was installed into his new role by Archbishop Charles Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines. He succeeded retired Archbishop Jose Palma, who served the archdiocese for 14 years.
