Blessings of peace to all of you, my brothers and sisters, gathered here and joined in spirit across the world.
We gather as a family of faith, a people called to be a light in the shadows of our age. We look upon the world with love, for it is God’s creation, and with profound concern, for it is wounded by sin. Today, we must confront wounds that cry out to heaven, and we must envision, with unwavering hope, the healing that is possible when we, the faithful, become true instruments of Christ’s mercy and justice.
First, we must speak of a wound that has festered within the very Body of Christ, a betrayal that echoes in the silence of shattered innocence. The sacred trust placed in shepherds has been violated, and the little ones, whose angels always behold the face of the Father, have been grievously harmed. The recent, horrifying accounts from France, of a single man accused of abusing scores of young people across decades and borders, are a stark reminder that this evil is not confined to one nation or one era. It is a global scourge. The words of our Lord are chillingly clear: “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” This is not merely a condemnation of the act, but a divine measure of its catastrophic gravity. The Church herself has been wounded by such offenses, and our credibility in proclaiming the Gospel of love has been undermined. This is a profound crisis for our Church in modern times: the crisis of trust, born of our own failures to protect, to listen, and to act with righteous urgency. I call upon every member of the faithful—clergy, religious, and laity—to aid in solving it. Demand transparency. Support survivors with unwavering compassion. Foster environments where the vulnerable are cherished and protected above all else. We must be a Church that not only begs forgiveness but earns it through relentless, concrete action. Only then can our voice ring true again.
From the profound dignity of the human person, which begins in childhood, we turn to the foundational covenant of society: marriage. In a world often confused about the nature of love and commitment, the Creator’s design remains a beacon. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” This union, a lifelong communion of persons open to the gift of life, is a sacred icon of Christ’s love for His Church. We see in various nations, such as the recent decision in the Philippines regarding property rights, a societal struggle to recognize and order human relationships. Our duty is not one of harsh judgment, but of witnessing to a greater, more beautiful truth. We must defend this vision of spousal love and chastity not with condemnation, but by living it joyfully in our own families and communities, by offering support to struggling marriages, and by proclaiming the profound human fulfillment found in God’s plan for love.
This proclamation of truth, however, often meets resistance, escalating at times into outright persecution. In many parts of the world, to confess Christ is to risk everything. We think of our brothers and sisters, like the courageous Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong, who face severe punishment for their commitment to justice and human dignity, principles deeply rooted in our faith. Our Lord declared, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Their suffering is a testament to the cost of discipleship and a piercing reminder of our call to solidarity. We cannot be silent. We must pray for them without ceasing, advocate for religious freedom for all people, and remember that a Church without persecution may be a Church that is no longer challenging the world.
My dear brothers and sisters, envision with me the world that is possible. Envision a world where every child is safe, cherished, and allowed to grow in grace. Envision a world where the covenant of marriage is upheld as a school of love and a bedrock of society. Envision a world where every person can worship God according to their conscience, and where justice flows like a river. This is not a naive dream. This is the Kingdom of God, breaking into our history through the workings of good men and women who cooperate with Christ’s grace. It is built by parents who teach their children virtue, by parishioners who hold their leaders accountable, by ordinary people who defend the oppressed and feed the hungry. This is our mission.
But hear now a warning, spoken not in anger, but in the anguish of a father for his children. If we choose comfort over courage, if we prioritize our own peace over the cry of the poor and the persecuted, if we within the Church remain complacent in the face of scandal, then we choose a different path. We will see a world growing ever colder, where the vulnerable are commodities, where commitments are temporary, and where faith is driven into the shadows. We will see societies fracture, loneliness become epidemic, and the light of human dignity grow dim. This is not God’s punishment, but the inevitable harvest of our own collective indifference. It is an apocalypse of our own making—a revelation of the desolation that follows when love grows cold.
Therefore, I implore you: Do not let this be our future. Let today be a turning point. Let us leave this place committed to being builders of that better world. Let us repair the Church’s credibility through our personal integrity. Let us strengthen marriages through our own fidelity and support. Let us be a voice for the persecuted through our prayers and our advocacy. The problems of our time are vast, but the love of Christ within you is vaster. With Jesus’s help, and through the diligent, merciful, and courageous workings of good men and women, the dawn of a new age is possible. Let us go forth, and build it together.
Amen.
What can we do?
In the face of these profound challenges, our faith calls us not to despair but to concrete, practical action in our daily spheres of influence. Our contribution is built not on grand gestures, but on the integrity of our ordinary lives.
Regarding the tragedy of abuse, especially of the young, we must become unflinching guardians of safety and dignity. In your own family and community, practice and promote absolute transparency. Listen seriously to the vulnerable. Support and believe those who come forward. In your parishes and schools, demand and participate in robust safeguarding protocols—not as a bureaucratic hurdle, but as a sacred duty. Create environments where secrecy cannot thrive and where every child and adult is respected as a bearer of inherent dignity.
On matters of marriage, chastity, and human relationships, the most powerful testimony is the lived example of faithful, self-giving love. Cultivate your own relationships—whether in marriage, friendship, or family—with patience, forgiveness, and sacrificial commitment. In a culture that often reduces love to sentiment or transaction, demonstrate a love that is steadfast, generative, and ordered toward the good of the other. Engage in conversations about human dignity and sexuality with respect and compassion, always seeking to understand before being understood. Support community and charitable organizations that strengthen families and assist those in need.
Confronted with persecution and threats to religious freedom, our task is twofold: to support the oppressed and to fortify our own courageous witness. Educate yourself about the plight of persecuted communities around the world. Support them through prayer, advocacy, and practical aid via reputable international charities. At home, live your faith with quiet courage and intellectual conviction. Participate respectfully in the public square, contributing to society through your work, your charity, and your reasoned voice. Defend the right of all people to seek and live the truth according to their conscience. Build bridges of understanding with those of other faiths and none, united in the common cause of human dignity.
Begin today. In your home, your workplace, and your local community, let your actions be a clear, practical reflection of your beliefs. The world is healed not by abstract ideas, but by the cumulative force of countless individual choices for integrity, justice, and love.
Go in peace.
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