Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle visits Southern Arabia’s Vicariate, presiding over massive Simbang Gabi Masses and stressing unity in a diverse migrant Church
Newsroom (23/12/2025 Gaudium Press ) Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, concluded a brief but deeply significant pastoral visit to the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia on December 18, 2025, carrying the personal greetings and blessing of Pope Leo XIV to a Church composed predominantly of migrant workers.
The three-day journey from December 16 to 18 underscored the Holy See’s closeness to Catholic communities in a region marked by profound multicultural and interreligious complexity.
At the center of the visit were the traditional Simbang Gabi celebrations, the nine-day Filipino Christmas novena observed from December 15 to 23. In the Vicariate, these Masses draw some of the highest levels of participation among the faithful. Cardinal Tagle presided over evening liturgies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi that attracted more than 30,000 worshippers in Dubai and over 18,000 in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the vibrancy of the Filipino community—the largest demographic group in the Vicariate—and the Church’s vital role as a spiritual home for workers and families living far from their homelands.
In his homilies, the cardinal called for a concrete preparation for Christmas rooted in gestures of welcome and reconciliation. Drawing on the examples of Mary and Joseph, he stressed that authentic anticipation of the Lord’s birth comes from allowing God’s love to transform daily life, even amid uncertainty.
Beyond the liturgical celebrations, Cardinal Tagle dedicated substantial time to pastoral dialogue. He met with Apostolic Vicar Bishop Paolo Martinelli, priests, diocesan office directors, and leaders from various linguistic communities to discuss the challenges of maintaining unity amid diversity.
“These days were memorable not only for the Filipino faithful, but for the entire Vicariate,” Bishop Martinelli said. “Through the celebrations and meetings with the Cardinal, we truly experienced unity in diversity, rediscovering that in Christ we are one. His presence, his words, and his blessing have given us strength and courage to continue our journey as pilgrims of hope, as a Church of migrants, witnesses of Christian hope.”
The bishop expressed particular gratitude for the cardinal’s emphasis on formation, youth ministry, and commitment to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.
A prominent theme throughout the visit was interculturality. Cardinal Tagle urged Catholics from different linguistic and cultural traditions to collaborate in ministries, learning to “walk together” and offer their diverse heritages in service to the wider community. This call resonated with the Church’s vision of a “joyful polyphony of faith,” especially poignant in the migratory context of the Arabian Peninsula.
The visit also included direct encounters with Filipino community representatives and the pastoral council of Saint Mary’s Church in Dubai, widely regarded as the world’s largest Catholic parish.
Local Church leaders described Cardinal Tagle’s presence as a tangible sign of Rome’s solidarity with migrant Catholics navigating life in a demanding and diverse environment.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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