ROXAS CITY — Manila Archbishop-elect Jose Cardinal Advincula said humility and courage are needed in facing the challenges brought by the coronavirus.
“Like how Jesus faced persecution, the Christian’s response should be the same in terms of the recent rise in COVID-19 cases,” Advincula, outgoing Capiz Archbishop, said in his Palm Sunday homily on March 28.
In a news article of the Sancta Maria Mater et Regina Seminarium, Advincula reflected on the Lord’s passion according to the Gospel of St. Mark.
“As we journey with the Lord in the Paschal mystery, we are invited to be like him who accepted the Father’s will with courage and obeying it in humility,” Advincula said in the dialect.
Also, he challenged the faithful to share the Lord’s disposition in challenging times.
“Let us not forget that if we have shared in his suffering and death, so too shall we share in his glorious resurrection,” Advincula said.
On March 25, Advincula was chosen to be the new Archbishop of Manila by Pope Francis.
Advincula will replace Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in the Vatican, who left for the position in February 2020.
Advincula also shared his Holy Week message through social media, saying that the faithful should confess their sins and that the Lord is going to be ready for forgiving anybody.
“Handa ang Diyos nga magdalagan, maghakus, maghalok, maghiwat sang puncion, kag magkinasadya sa aton pagbalik, pagapauli sa iya sa tunga sang aton kasalanan. Tungod sina, dapat nakaangut sa kabuhi sa misteryo Pascual,” Advincula said.*