Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle said corruption runs counter to God’s plan as he led the Simbang Gabi Mass for Filipinos at St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, urging the faithful to reject greed, consumerism and dishonest gain as Christmas approaches.
Tagle’s remarks echoed broader concerns in the Philippines over corruption in public spending, including flood control projects meant to protect lives and communities but often marred by allegations of misuse of funds and substandard implementation.
Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, called on Filipinos to examine whether their ambitions reflect God’s saving plan or lead instead to harm to society and creation.
“When the plan is corruption, no one sleeps. But when it is God’s plan, everyone is asleep,” he said in his homily.
He warned against life plans driven by money, influence or shallow measures of success, stressing that Christmas should be lived through faith, service and moral responsibility, and pointed to the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph as models of obedience and integrity in carrying out God’s will.
More than a thousand Filipinos from Rome and other countries attended the Mass, organized by the Sentro Pilipino Chaplaincy in Rome, alongside clergy, religious and lay faithful.
The gathering highlighted Simbang Gabi as both a deeply rooted Advent tradition and a moment of reflection for Filipinos overseas on values of honesty and stewardship, particularly in the use of public resources intended for the common good.
Many Filipino faithful travelled from different parts of Italy and neighboring European countries to attend the Simbang Gabi officiated by Tagle, reaffirming both faith and cultural identity for Filipinos living abroad.
Rooted in history, Simbang Gabi dates back to the late 16th century during the Spanish colonial era, when Spanish friars—drawing inspiration from early Christian practices in Spain and Mexico—introduced dawn Masses to the Philippines.
This year’s Simbang Gabi carried the theme “Pasko sa Jubileo 2025,” aligning the Filipino celebration with the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year.
Tagle was joined by Philippine Ambassador in Italy, Nathaniel Imperial; Ambassador to the Holy See Myla Grace Macahilig; Filipino communities; religious sisters, priests, and other clergy from various dioceses.
Miracle Salvation Missionaries Community leader Blas Trinidad Jr. noted the unique atmosphere of Simbang Gabi, surrounding the devotion, describing it as both prayerful and festive, where faith and Filipino warmth naturally come together.
Across Italy, other churches also observed Simbang Gabi, a tradition introduced by Filipino Catholic communities in the early 2000s.
