The Archbishop of Manila has called on Catholics to reclaim humility, reverence, and moral clarity this Christmas, warning that wealth, power, and abuse distort both faith and society.
In his Christmas Message 2025, Cardinal Jose Advincula reflected on the Church’s act of kneeling during the Profession of Faith, particularly at the words, “He was made flesh,” describing the gesture as one that is often performed “almost absent-mindedly, sometimes even forgotten.”
“This Christmas, let us take this simple ritual as a message and a reminder, and make room for it amid our many preoccupations,” the cardinal said.
The prelate emphasized that kneeling is not only an expression of reverence but also “an act of thanksgiving and an opening of ourselves so that Jesus may truly dwell among us.”
Advincula urged families and communities to draw closer to the meaning of Christ’s birth through renewed faith practices in churches and homes.
“Together, let us kneel like the shepherds and the wise men, and bring to the manger our humble offerings of faith, love, and hope,” he said.
Broadening his message to social realities, the Manila archbishop warned that Christmas loses its meaning when humility gives way to self-interest and domination.
“If we imitate King Herod—if we no longer know how to kneel in humility and instead worship and bow before other gods—then our celebration of Christmas becomes shallow and empty,” he said.
He linked moral decline to systemic injustice, asking, “If obsession with wealth and intoxication with power rule our society, how can we ever set right our distorted systems and the unceasing abuse of the public trust?”
As the year draws to a close, Advincula called on the faithful to reject forces that harm the future and erode human dignity. “Let us walk away from darkness and sin. Let us resist the Herods who mercilessly destroy our future,” he said.
The cardinal urged believers to renew their journey of faith through humility and worship. “Let us kneel before the Redeemer—Emmanuel, the Star, the Light of our salvation and our peace,” he said.
