A Filipino cardinal has urged the faithful to recognize life as a divine gift and a moral duty.
During Sunday Mass (February 23) at the Manila Cathedral for the 2025 Walk for Life, Cardinal Jose Advincula of the Archdiocese of Manila emphasized the sacredness of life and the responsibility that comes with it.
“Let us continue marching and proclaiming that life is beautiful, that it is an undeserved gift, and that it is also a task and a responsibility to uphold and protect,” he said in his homily.
The archbishop of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, spoke out against various threats to human dignity, including abortion, the commodification of sex, and what he described as the “manipulation of human procreation.”
He strongly condemned euthanasia, referring to it as “mercy killing” and calling it “morally indefensible.”
Furthermore, he reiterated that extrajudicial killings are “evil” and go against the dignity of human life.
This year’s Walk for Life, an annual event promoting the sanctity of human life and the family, gathered over 3,500 participants.
The faithful walked a two-kilometer route from Rizal Park to the Manila Cathedral at dawn on Sunday, publicly affirming their commitment to defending life, especially the unborn.
Organized by the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas, or Philippines’ Council of the Laity, the event was held in partnership with the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) of the Catholic Bishops' Conference and the Manila Archdiocesan Office for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.
Bishop Jesse Mercado of the Diocese of Parañaque, who serves as ECFL chairman, highlighted the importance of collective action in upholding life and family values.
“Our presence here is a clear message to the world that life is sacred, family is a gift, and unity is our strength,” Mercado said.
He further expressed hope that the united voices of the faithful would inspire a culture that respects every human life from conception to natural death.
“Hope that our collective voice will continue to shape a culture that values every human person from conception to natural death,” the bishop added.
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