Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, has urged Asian Catholics to reject fear-based leadership and embrace the humility and courage of the Magi as the Great Pilgrimage of Hope opened in Penang, Malaysia, on November 27.
Speaking to delegates from across the region, Cardinal Tagle contrasted two spiritual paths reflected in the Gospel: the Magi, who journey with openness and faith, and Herod, whose fear, power, and insecurity lead to paralysis and violence.
“We need more Magi—pilgrims who seek, listen, learn, and adore,” he said. “We need fewer Herods—those trapped in fear and power. Come and join Jesus’ pilgrimage.”
The event—Asia’s largest Church gathering in 20 years—began with an inaugural ceremony and a Mass presided over by Cardinal Sebastian Francis of Penang. Cardinal Tagle delivered the keynote address titled “Going a Different Way: Renewed Pilgrims of Hope.”
He reminded participants that Christian hope is not optimism or escape but a theological virtue rooted in God. True hope, he said, purifies motives, strengthens perseverance, and directs charity toward God’s Kingdom rather than personal advantage.
Reflecting on the Magi, Cardinal Tagle highlighted their humility and readiness to seek guidance—an attitude at the heart of synodality. Their joy in Bethlehem, he added, shows that “wisdom and joy are often found in small, overlooked communities.”
Herod, by contrast, became immobilized by power and fear. “If you have power, you have weight—and if you have weight, it is difficult to move,” the Cardinal noted, warning that fear can spread and paralyze entire institutions.
The Cardinal closed with a personal story of getting “lost” during a trip abroad, which unexpectedly led him to meet two Filipino migrant workers seeking prayer. “I realized I did not get lost,” he said. “Jesus led me to that path.”
He encouraged the faithful to remember that Christian life is always a journey guided by Christ: “Jesus takes a different way. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is our star, our goal, our hope.”
Credit: Vatican News
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