Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle joins Hong Kong Catholics celebrating 80 years of the diocese, urging faith, courage, and hope for society.
Newsroom (27/01/2026 Gaudium Press ) As the Diocese of Hong Kong marked its 80th anniversary, Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, the Cardinal Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, urged the city’s 400,000 Catholics to “bring hope to society” and become “courageous witnesses of the Lord.” The celebration, held at Charter Garden on January 18, gathered faithful from across the diocese for a day of prayer, music, and unity.
Drawing inspiration from Scripture, Cardinal Tagle anchored his reflection on the ancient blessing from the Book of Numbers: “The Lord let his face shine upon you and give you peace.” He told the assembled crowd that this blessing represents “the blessing that God desires to give us”—that His face, manifested in Jesus Christ, radiates peace and compassion across generations.
“The blessing that God gives us and to Hong Kong is His Holy Face in Jesus Christ,” Cardinal Tagle said. “It is a face that is both fully divine and fully human.”
Encountering the Face of Christ
Cardinal Tagle’s message centered on the idea that encountering God’s face is not limited to a purely spiritual plane—it also unfolds through human connections. He emphasized seeing the Face of Jesus reflected in children, calling them “a blessing for society.” In his words, “no child or young person is a ‘problem’,” a statement that drew warm applause from participants.
He encouraged the faithful to recognize and cherish this divine reflection in everyday life, concluding with a fervent prayer that “the Holy Face of Jesus always shine upon Hong Kong.”
Together with Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan, Bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Tagle extended a collective blessing over the city, symbolizing a prayer for harmony and healing amid a complex social landscape.
A City Blessed in Many Tongues
The 80th-anniversary celebration mirrored Hong Kong’s diversity. Prayers were offered in multiple languages—Cantonese, Filipino, French, Mandarin, Korean, and Vietnamese—showcasing the diocese’s richness of cultures united by faith.
According to The Sunday Examiner, Cardinal Tagle also met with Sister Corazon Demetillo and Sister Victoria Victorino from the Diocesan Pastoral Center for Filipinos. The sisters briefed the cardinal on parish-level initiatives supporting migrants and asylum seekers, developed with the collaboration of the Philippine Consulate.
Hong Kong’s Catholic community includes a significant Filipino presence. Official figures from August 2021 show around 177,000 Filipinos among the city’s non-permanent residents, many of whom are active members of local parishes. Their participation in the anniversary event underscored the ongoing efforts of the diocese to promote inclusion and compassion across its congregations.
Becoming a Blessing to Others
In his closing remarks, Cardinal Tagle encouraged every Catholic in Hong Kong to live out their faith by becoming “a blessing to others.” This, he said, is the essence of Christian discipleship—allowing God’s face to shine through one’s actions, kindness, and courage.
“May Hong Kong always rejoice in the face of Jesus,” he declared. The message resonated across the gathered crowd—a call for renewal, service, and hope at a turning point in the city’s history.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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