The Archbishop of Manila has called on Filipinos to reject peace rooted in fear, force, and domination, urging them to embrace an “unarmed and disarming” peace grounded in humility, dialogue, and inner conversion as the country enters the new year.
In his New Year’s Message for 2026, Cardinal Jose Advincula echoed the appeal of Pope Leo XIV, stressing that peace cannot be imposed through violence or coercion.
“Peace is not achieved by force or fear, but by a disarmed heart and a disarming way of life,” he said. “True peace begins within us, rejects violence and domination, and grows through humility, dialogue, mercy, and trust.”
The cardinal situated his message amid widespread frustration and fatigue, acknowledging the experience of many who continue to hope for peace and progress but feel repeatedly disappointed.
“Like most of you, I often feel the scourge of a people who have been wanting peace and progress, but to no avail,” he said.
He warned that such conditions can breed cynicism and resignation. “We can’t seem to get our act together. We often fail miserably. Another year is upon us,” he said. “The cynical among us would give up and abandon the struggle.”
Despite these realities, Advincula emphasized hope rooted in faith rather than circumstance. “But we are a people of hope,” he said. “We believe in God who walks with us and remains faithful to us.”
Turning to Mary, Mother of God, the archbishop presented her as a guide for entering the new year amid uncertainty. He noted that Mary “did not have clear answers” and “did not fully understand what was happening in her young life,” yet chose to trust, pondering events in her heart.
“Like Mary, let us face the New Year not with answers and solutions but with courage and faith,” Advincula said. “We welcome 2026 with the heart of Mary — open to mystery, attentive in discernment, questioning without fear, and anchored in trust.”
As the Ordinary Jubilee Year of 2025 comes to a close, the archbishop urged Catholics to carry its theme into daily life. “We become Pilgrims of Hope every day of this new year,” he said. “We journey together in synodality and solidarity.”
Advincula also called for sustained moral engagement in public life. He urged the public to “continue to pray for peace and justice, for truth and accountability, for the conversion of hearts and restoration of conscience in our society.”
