Metro Manila, Philippines – Manila Archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula warned that greed, abuse of power and the erosion of public trust risk making hollow the true meaning of Christmas, urging Catholics to reject pride and return to humility and faith as they celebrate the birth of Christ.
In his Christmas Message 2025, Advincula said the season loses its depth when it is reduced to excess and self-interest, instead of becoming a time for reverence, reflection and conversion.
He drew attention to a key moment in the Christmas Mass, when the faithful kneel at the profession of faith proclaiming that Jesus “was made flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary.”
The archbishop said the gesture, often rushed or overlooked, is a powerful reminder of humility and gratitude at the heart of Christian celebration.
“This Christmas, let us take this simple ritual as a message and a reminder, and make room for it amid our many preoccupations,” Advincula said, stressing that kneeling before Christ is an act of openness to God and a rejection of arrogance and self-centeredness.
Seen more broadly, the archbishop said Christmas becomes “shallow and empty” when humility is replaced by pride and obsession with wealth and power. He warned that unchecked abuse of authority and the breakdown of public trust distort social systems, deepen injustice and threaten the future of communities.
Advincula urged the faithful to walk away from darkness and resist forces that destroy life and dignity, calling on families and communities to draw closer to Bethlehem and approach the manger with faith, love and hope, following the example of the shepherds and the wise men.
