Cardinal Tagle: Jesus Walks Beside Us Every Day

Penang, Malaysia 29 November 2025: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of Dicasstery for Evangelization offered a warm reminder that Jesus never leaves our side. He walks besides us every day and every moment. Preaching at the Minor Basilica of St Anne in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, on 29 November 2025, during the FABC Congress of the Great Pilgrimage of Hope, he said Jesus walks with every person and waits for each one “as a brother.”

Speaking to delegates from across Asia, Cardinal Tagle said the Church in Asia is on a shared journey of faith. The year 2033 will be a major anniversary, he noted, but it is not a final destination. “Our journey continues until we reach the Father,” he said.

He reflected on the limits of human understanding. Husbands and wives never fully know each other. Teachers understand only part of their students’ lives. Communities walk together with incomplete knowledge, yet they remain united on the road.

Cardinal Tagle said moments of confusion are a natural part of this journey. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, believers also struggle to make sense of life. But Jesus stays close, ready to clear doubts and lead people to a personal encounter with him.

“Jesus, our fellow traveller, is on the path to the Father,” he said. “He walks beyond 2033. He opens the door for each one of us. Where are we going, and to whom are we going? Jesus is waiting for us. He is our companion and our loving brother.”

The 773 delegates at the FABC Congress on the Great Pilgrimage of Hope received a warm and heartfelt welcome from the local community. After the Holy Mass at St Anne’s Minor Basilica, the celebrations continued with a lively musical concert by Fr Rob Galea from Australia. The event drew thousands of faithful from the Diocese of Penang, who joined the delegates in an evening of joy, music, and fellowship.

By Catholic Connect Reporter