6 days ago
Cardinal Tagle leads Mass for PH youth at Jubilee of the Youth 2025 in Rome
In his homily, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle emphasized the importance of making the right choices in Christian life. "Every decision we make can either bring us closer to God — or lead us further away from Him," he reminded the youth. PIA GONZALEZ-ABUCAY
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle presided this week over the celebration of the Holy Mass at Santa Pudenziana Church, known as the Filipino Chaplaincy in Rome, where some 300 young Filipino pilgrims gathered as part of the spiritual activities of the Jubilee of the Youth 2025.
Joining him in the concelebrated Mass on July 29 were nearly 30 priests from various congregations, including Archbishop Rex Alarcon, chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Youth; Fr. Ted Kalaw, superior general of the Order of Clerics Regular Minor (Adorno Fathers); Fr. Ronan Ayag, chaplain of the Sentro Pilipino; and several other Filipino religious priests from different parts of the world.
Youth delegates came from various countries across Europe, such as Spain and Germany, as well as from the United Kingdom, Canada, Dubai, and Bahrain. Also in attendance were 50 delegates from the Philippines under the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY), who actively participated and joyfully took part in the gathering.
Photo by: Pia Gonzalez-Abucay
In his homily, Cardinal Tagle emphasized the importance of making the right choices in Christian life.
"Every decision we make can either bring us closer to God — or lead us further away from Him," he reminded the youth.
Before the Mass, participants took part in the whole-day Live Pure Conference, an annual gathering of Filipino youth from Italy and Europe, organized by the Sentro Pilipino Youth Ministry (SPYM) under the guidance of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Rome. This year, the conference was aligned with the Jubilee of the Youth and featured workshops and activities that addressed the spiritual and personal growth of young people.
Photo by: Pia Gonzalez-Abucay
After the Mass, the youth continued with moments of joyful fellowship—catching up, dancing, singing, taking photos and bonding with priests, religious sisters, Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See Myla Grace Macahilig, and Cardinal Tagle himself.
"I feel nothing but joy—a happiness that reaches down to my bones. I am deeply grateful to God that we were able to open our Filipino Chaplaincy to everyone for this historic event. Truly, we are carried by His grace," said Berkz Cepillo, who has led the Sentro Pilipino Youth Ministry (SPYM) and the Live Pure Conference for the past 10 years, in an interview with GMA Integrated News.
Photo by: Pia Gonzalez-Abucay
Meanwhile, Ambassador Myla Macahilig praised the commitment of young Filipinos who traveled from distant countries to be part of this milestone celebration.
"Go forth! As Pope Leo XIV said, you are the light of the world and the salt of the Earth," she declared.
The Jubilee of the Youth 2025 is a week-long celebration in Rome with over one million young people from 146 countries in attendance. It began on Tuesday, July 29, and will culminate on Sunday, August 3, with a Holy Mass led by Pope Leo XIV at Tor Vergata in Rome. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
