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Homily at the Pilgrimage of Hope 2025, Minor Basilica of St. Anne, Penang Penang, Malaysia - The Minor Basilica of St. Anne became the heart of Asia's faithful as 800 delegates representing 30 countries gathered for the Pilgrimage of Hope 2025, a celebration of shared mission and future. The Holy Mass celebrated by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, whose message of hope and vigilance inspired pilgrims to continue their journey with Christ toward the fulfillment of God's promise. Cardinal Tagle began by expressing joy at seeing “faces of people who journey with us in Asia,” noting that the pilgrimage was not only for Asia but for the whole world. He reminded the assembly that the Church is setting its sights on the year 2033, the 2000th anniversary of the Paschal Mystery, the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, which marked the beginning of Christian mission. A Community of Pilgrims in Confusion Reflecting on the first reading from the Book of Daniel, Cardinal Tagle highlighted the prophet’s role as a trusted interpreter of mysteries for the king. “It is okay to be disturbed, to be alarmed,” he said. “We are on a common journey, forming a community of confused, unknowing people. But if the vision comes from God, let Him shed light. Beware when humans pretend to interpret mysteries that belong to God.” Christ Who Burns Our Hearts The Cardinal drew attention to the Gospel, recalling how Jesus makes ‘our hearts burn within us’ by opening the Scriptures and breaking bread, actions that reveal His very life. “The Lord spurs us on to mission. He is our future. He is the one pulling our journey to Himself. He is with us, but He is also waiting for us,” Cardinal Tagle proclaimed. He emphasized that the end of the journey gives meaning to the story: “A life that does not end is not complete. The kingdom awaits those who journey even in confusion. Do we believe in the future that is assured?” Warnings Against Losing Sight of Christ Cardinal Tagle cautioned against distractions that dull the heart and obscure the vision of Christ. He named drunkenness, anxiety, material obsession, consumerism, and vanity as forces that drain energy and lead believers away from the Lord. “We forget about the Lord who is waiting for us when we are busy being anxious,” he warned, urging the faithful instead to pray at all times, remain in communion, and be present to family, the poor, the hungry, the imprisoned, the homeless, and the stranger. “Jesus is in them,” he continued. “He is the one who will welcome us into the Father’s kingdom.” At this point, he added with emphasis: “Jesus urges us to be watchful and prayerful. He is the co-journeyer and also our destination.” Journeying Towards 2033 Looking ahead to the milestone year 2033, Cardinal Tagle assured the faithful that Christ is already preparing to welcome them. “Our companion Jesus is pulling us to Himself. If only we are alert and pray, then we will journey with Him. He is the host of the beautiful house, ready to open the door.” He concluded with a powerful invitation: “If someone asks where you are going, say: I am going to God the Father. And if they look shocked, ask them: Do you want to come with me? For Jesus is our co-journeyer and also our destination.” 

Synodality and Mission: Impact Session with Father Clarence Devadass Taking the Church Forward in a Synodal Way The Great Pilgrimage of Hope 2025 featured an Impact Session with Father Clarence Devadass, who spoke candidly about synodality and its place in the life and mission of the Church. He reminded participants that this was a time of listening, sharing, and discerning together. The aim was to leave with conviction: each participant must ask, “What can I do when I get back?” Synodality, he stressed, is about becoming agents of change in our homes, parishes, dioceses, and communities. Father Clarence explained that synodality is not a “band-aid” solution to all the Church’s problems. It is not a project, a management programme, or a strategic plan. Rather, it is a spirituality, a way of being Church. “Since 2021, the word “synodality” has been added to many events and documents, but often without real change in practice. True synodality requires conversion: of mindsets, of relationships, of processes, and of structures. It is not about adding more burdens to priests or parish leaders, but about infusing the spirit of synodality into what is already being done, whether in Eucharist, parish meetings, or assemblies.” He highlighted three pillars of synodality: communion, participation, and mission. “Communion calls the faithful to unity and to journey together without leaving anyone behind. Participation invites every baptised person to recognise and share their gifts, overcoming exclusion and embracing diversity. Mission reminds the Church that it exists to evangelise, bringing God’s love especially to those at the peripheries. Synodality, therefore, is not an end in itself but a pathway to transformation and conversion.” Listening and discernment are central to synodality. Father Clarence emphasised the importance of listening to one another and to the Holy Spirit, suspending judgement and resisting the urge to provide instant solutions. “Synodality is not parliamentary democracy or majority rule; sometimes the Spirit speaks through the minority voice.” He added that what matters is the process of decision-making, marked by genuine consultation and openness, not token gestures. “Consultation must be sincere, not for show, and must engage the faithful meaningfully in the life of the Church.” He acknowledged the cultural barriers that make synodality challenging in Asia. “Linguistic diversity complicates even the translation of the word “synodality.” Deep respect for hierarchy can limit accessibility to Church leaders, while patriarchal structures continue to diminish the role of women. Silence and avoidance are also common, with faithful preferring to wait out a parish priest’s tenure rather than engage in dialogue.” He added that these realities must be confronted if synodality is to take root in the region. He noted that servant leadership requires humility and accessibility, not distance or privilege. Synodality, Father Clarence reminded participants, is not time-bound to 2028 nor dependent solely on Pope Francis. “It is a renewal of the Church’s identity as the People of God. Through baptism, we all share in the threefold ministry of priest, prophet, and king, making every member a stakeholder in the Church’s mission.” He added that synodality strengthens the Church’s witness, builds unity in diversity, and responds to contemporary challenges such as declining attendance, questions of relevance, and the credibility of the Church in the face of scandal. “It is not about changing doctrine, but about expressing the Church’s identity as the People of God, discerning together what the Spirit is saying.” Father Clarence also spoke of the need to expand the tent, echoing Pope Francis’ call, highlighting that the challenge is not only to welcome more people, but to open the hearts of those already inside. “Too often, insiders resist welcoming those who are different, waiting until they are “perfect” before allowing them in. Synodality calls for universal participation, recognising diverse gifts and talents, and moving the faithful from passive recipients to active agents of faith. It is about dialogue, communication, and engagement, both within the Church and with people of other religions and those at the margins.” He added that synodality is about moving forward in hope, transforming passive recipients into active agents of faith. “It expands the tent, not only to welcome more people but to open the hearts of those already inside.” He stressed that synodality is about mission, communion, and participation to become a Church that listens, discerns, and walks together. He reminded participants to carry this spirituality home, embodying synodality in daily life and becoming agents of change in their communities. The impact session concluded in a beautiful synodal action of the participants of the impact session saying the Lord’s prayer in their own languages representing the 30 countries present.

Penang, 28 November – On the second day of the Great Pilgrimage of Hope 2025, His Eminence Charles Maung Cardinal Bo, SDB, Archbishop of Yangon and former President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), delivered a stirring homily during Holy Mass, reflecting on Asia’s journey of faith and hope. Cardinal Bo began by painting a vivid image of Asia as a “great mosaic, united in diversity.” He reminded the faithful that as people of Asia, we walk together, listening to one another. “The Asian Jesus is listening to Asia,” he said, “but often heard by very few.” Christianity, he noted, has left a profound influence across the continent. Saint Theresa, who “preached without preaching,” brought the passion of Christ to Asia, while education and welfare initiatives left a lasting impression of Jesus among the people. “We are here to bear witness and proclaim that Christ may be known to more people,” Cardinal Bo urged. He invited the congregation to offer smiles to others, for “faith is a sweet message.” Echoing Pope Francis, he reminded that the joy of the Gospel must reflect in all of us. “Let the Good News start with a smile,” he said, adding that evangelisation begins as art flowing from the heart. Drawing from Scripture, Cardinal Bo recalled the prophet Daniel, who never lost hope and saw vision in the midst of chaos. “Jesus comes to us in a gentle human and divine form,” he proclaimed. “We are gathered to see Jesus reaching us in Asia. In our synodal journey, we meet the Asian Jesus.” He spoke of the challenges facing the continent, conflict, displacement, consumerism, and countless digital distractions, yet assured the faithful that the Son of Man continues to walk into our homes and hearts. “He whispers that the world will pass away, but His Word will never pass away.” Cardinal Bo emphasised that Jesus’ love is a love that listens, heals, and remains when all else fails. “When our life is filled with love, then Jesus returns to us,” he said. He described Christ as present behind the tired mother, the migrant worker, and the young person absorbed in their phone. “He whispers: ‘I recognise this continent.’ But would we recognise Him, or are we too busy, too divided, and too afraid?” His message, Cardinal Bo stressed, is strong in the midst of a diverse continent waiting for hope. “The Spirit invites us to listen to each other, even when sometimes the path is not clear.” “I would like to share five points from the Gospel, to guide us in our synodal journey,” Cardinal Bo continued. First, Listening: the first step is not listening with our ears but with our hearts. “Be quick to listen, slow to speak” (James 1:19). Just like Daniel listened to God in the storm, in our parishes we need less noise and less silence of fear. Listen with our hearts. Imagine our meetings becoming shorter but more impactful. Second, Leadership: service not status. The Son of Man’s kingdom is built on service. Real authority comes from humility. A true leader washes feet and does not point fingers. Leadership bends low to reach others who are in despair. The synodal journey is one of servant leadership. Third, Diversity is a gift, not a threat. Asia is diverse in language, cuisine, and culture. Too often, classification of human beings becomes a scandal. Asia will be evangelised when we can shake off cultural barriers. The Church of Asia must be a bridge-builder, not asking who is right but what the Spirit says through each one of us. We must listen to others who come from different accents and backgrounds. Fourth, Power: the poor are not forgotten. God chose the humble way for His Son to come into the world. We must reflect: where would Jesus live if He came back today? When we look at the slums, among the migrants, poor, and displaced, do we see Jesus? When the Church forgets the poor, it forgets Jesus. Let us remember to look at the barefoot, dusty feet, in whom Jesus is waiting for us. Fifth, Youth: finding the Church alive and joyful. Like Daniel, Asian youth today are smart, creative, but also restless and searching. They want a Church that listens and not lectures, a Church that dances and praises. If the Church does not give them joy, they will seek it in the scrolling of social media. The Church must accept that the youth may not come to the Church, and the Church must go to the youth. We must open spaces where young people can dance, sing, and praise. We must walk with them as fellow pilgrims of hope, knowing that a Church that walks with the young never grows old. “At the end, His dominion is everlasting and shall not pass away,” Cardinal Bo assured. “This is the roadmap of the synodal journey in Asia. All else will fade, smartphones and trends, but only the love of God remains.” He reminded the faithful that in the synodal journey, Jesus comes in the smiles of a child, the service of a priest, the courage of a youth, and the presence of the laity.  “Our journey as one continent of faith calls us to be communities that listen before they speak, to embrace humble leadership, to celebrate diversity in Asia, to never forget the poor, and to ensure the young find the Church alive and joyful. Then Jesus will return to Asia. Our journey together as Asia is a journey in love, fellowship, and humility, for all humanity.”

“Greetings and blessings to all.” This was the Holy Father’s message to participants of the Great Pilgrimage of Hope 2025, conveyed when Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle informed Pope Leo of his participation. With that blessing, Cardinal Tagle set the tone for his keynote address: a reminder that Jesus is both the storyteller and the story, the story that changed the whole world. Drawing from the Gospel of Matthew, he reflected on the Magi who, after encountering the Christ Child, were prompted by a dream to take a different way home. “Their journey was transformed,” Cardinal Tagle said, “and so too must ours be as renewed pilgrims of hope.” This message resonates deeply with the 50th FABC Conference’s theme of journeying together. Like the Magi, the peoples of Asia are invited to discern new paths, not out of avoidance, but out of faith and transformation. Cardinal Tagle reminded the faithful that Christian hope is not mere optimism or wishful thinking, nor an escape from life’s struggles. “Hope is a theological virtue infused by God’s grace, with God Himself as its final object. We do not simply wish for God; we hope in God.” This hope, he explained, is profoundly human. “In Jesus, God entered the world to purify our aspirations and orient them toward the Kingdom of Heaven. Hope sustains believers in discouragement, strengthens them in abandonment, and allows them to find joy even in trials.” He added that authentic charity must flow from this hope, purifying human desires and directing them to God’s reign. The Magi’s pilgrimage, Cardinal Tagle noted, is a classic story of hope, intertwined with the despair of Herod. Unlike Herod, who remained unmoved and blind to creation, the Magi looked to the stars, listened to prophecy, and humbly sought guidance. “Their openness led them to Bethlehem, where the Child welcomed them — Gentiles from afar — as honoured guests.” Herod, by contrast, plotted destruction. “Hopelessness cannot tolerate the joy of others,” Cardinal Tagle warned, drawing parallels to modern times when reputations are torn down or service is refused where Christ calls. “Today it becomes so easy to ruin someone’s reputation online.” “We need more Magi and fewer Herods,” Cardinal Tagle urged. “We need copilgrims who, like the Magi, are willing to take a different way, guided not by power or convenience but by humility, discernment, and faith.” He shared a personal story from an interreligious gathering, where after losing his way, he encountered two women who sought his blessing. “In that moment, I realised I had not been lost at all, Jesus had led me there.” Cardinal Tagle concluded with a powerful reminder that it was Jesus who went a different way. “He guided the Magi. He chose the path of humility over worldly power. Born in Bethlehem, with no place to lay His head, He taught the truth and revealed Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is our hope, and in Him, the Great Pilgrimage of Hope finds its meaning.”

PENANG, 27 November — In a historic celebration of faith, culture, and communion, over a thousand faithful from churches across 30 countries in Asia gathered in Penang for The Great Pilgrimage of Hope 2025. This marks the first major continental assembly of the Church in 20 years, held from 27–30 November under the theme “Journeying together as peoples of Asia, and they went a different way” (Mt 2:12). The event is organised by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences – Office of Evangelization (FABCOE). Hosted by the Diocese of Penang, supported by Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) Asia, and in collaboration with the Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, this historic gathering is part of a broader Vatican initiative. It represents a new chapter in the life of the Church in Asia. The pilgrimage is envisioned as a moment of communion, discernment, and renewal, echoing Pope Francis’ call for the Church to be “pilgrims of hope” in a world longing for peace and solidarity. Delegates from across Asia were selected through a structured process and include bishops, priests, religious and deacons, lay faithful, ecclesial movements, youth representatives, women leaders, and Catholic professionals. Workshops, keynote addresses, impact sessions, rallies, and cultural exchanges highlight the diverse richness of Asia’s Catholic communities, while fostering dialogue on evangelization in today’s rapidly changing societies. Keynote speakers include Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, Archbishop Simon Poh, Mar Raphael Thattil, Archbishop Christopher Prowse, Colin Calmiano, and other notable voices, each offering insights into renewal, reconciliation, and discipleship in a post-pandemic, post-globalisation era. A highlight of the pilgrimage will be the solemn Eucharistic celebration at St. Anne Minor Basilica, Bukit Mertajam, on 29 November. Declared Malaysia’s first minor basilica in 2023, the shrine is a beloved site of devotion and now becomes the spiritual heart of this continental gathering. The Mass will be presided over by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization. The liturgy will be followed by a concert featuring international Catholic artists, including Fr. Rob Galea and Rexband, offering music that lifts hearts in praise and thanksgiving. In his welcome address, Cardinal Sebastian reflected: “Just as the three wise men, pilgrims from the East, came to meet the newborn infant Jesus in Bethlehem and returned to their lands by a different path, so too are we invited by this theme to discern and walk together in synodality, embracing new pathways of being Church in Asia, rooted in fraternity and a shared mission.” He added that this gathering comes as the Universal Catholic Church prepares to bring the Jubilee Year of Hope to its fulfilment in December 2025, while looking ahead with anticipation to World Youth Day in Seoul, Korea in 2027, and the culmination of the Synod on Synodality in Rome in 2028. “The communion among us and the continuation of the mission is truly a gift we will celebrate and carry forward,” he said. “Yes, we are Asian Catholics. The Asian Mission Congress in Chiang Mai 2006 reminded us that we Asians are storytellers at heart. We have a story to share with Asia and beyond, as Global Asians, pilgrims and storytellers. The greatest story ever told is of Jesus Christ. It is a simple and pure story which continues to this very day and beyond. The Holy Spirit, given freely to all who seek and love God with an open heart, will continue to tell this story in Asia and beyond.” George Pallipparambil SDB, Bishop of Miao and Chairman of FABC OE, in his keynote address, said: “We have come as part of the Jubilee Pilgrimage to thank God and show our love and appreciation for our faith and cultures, as well as to commit ourselves to the Lord’s call to make the world a better place by being salt, leaven, and light” (cf. Mt 5:13–14; Mt 13:33; Lk 13:21). “By being agents of change, we can create a new world where there will be peace and justice.” The Gospel of Matthew recounts: “And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back by another route” (Mt 2:12). The Magi, having encountered the Christ Child, could not simply retrace their steps. Their meeting with the Lord transformed them, compelling them to walk a new way, a path shaped by faith and renewal. In much the same spirit, the Great Pilgrimage beckons us to follow suit. Like the Magi, we too have encountered Christ, through the sacraments, within our communities, and amid the trials of daily life. This encounter calls us to journey differently: with hearts rekindled in hope, with compassion deepened, and with a renewed commitment to serve. For Malaysia, hosting the Great Pilgrimage of Hope is both a privilege and a responsibility. It places the nation at the centre of Asia’s Catholic journey, highlighting its role in fostering dialogue, unity, and evangelization. As pilgrims walk together in faith, The Great Pilgrimage of Hope 2025 stands as a living witness to the Church’s mission in Asia: to journey together, to celebrate diversity, and to radiate hope for the future.