Tagle hopes for brighter 2021

MANILA, Philippines — Former Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has expressed optimism that 2021 will be a brighter year for everyone as he urged the Catholic faithful to change their outlook.

In a recent interview with Vatican News, Tagle said he acknowledges the sufferings and hardships of the Catholic faithful all over the world and wished them a prosperous and brighter 2021.

“I wish that people will have the strength, the hope, the faith and the joy to make the New Year brighter. We cannot wait for outside factors to change. Maybe they will not change,” Tagle, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, said.

“But we can change our outlook and that will make the New Year brighter: our hope, our solidarity, our joy,” he added.

The year 2020 was dubbed by some as cursed after the country was ravaged by several natural disasters while the world was shut down by the coronavirus disease that infected and killed thousands.

Tagle, a COVID-19 survivor himself, said that he learned to savor every moment of his life at peace with God and at peace with his neighbors “because you might not have another chance to do it.”

Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos also urged the Catholic faithful to be thankful still to God for the blessings he gave to them amid the chaotic 2020 while he urged them to “turn and trust God on this New Year.”

Santos said that God has reasons why 2020 turned out the way it did.

But in every hardship and suffering that the people faced last year, Santos said that God was always silently guiding them to become strong and safe from harm brought about by the pandemic.

“Totoo po na mayroon kagipitan at tayo ay nangailangan. Marahil tayo ay higit na sinubok at labis na mabigat ang ating pinasan o masakit ang ating pinagdaanan. Datapuwa’t ang lahat na ito ay ating nalampasan,” he said, indicating that life triumphed because of God’s grace.

He said that Jesus Christ was present in every medical frontliner who risked their lives to save COVID-19 patients, as well as in every rescuer who risked their lives to save residents affected by recent calamities in the country.

Santos said that the people should look back to 2020 with a grateful and thanking heart to the Lord.

“Let us think of God. Let us turn to Him. When we are tested and tempted… When we are in pain and have problems, it is to God whom we have to turn to. In order to be lucky, or fortunate and blessed, go to God and turn to him,” he said.

Santos said that he believes 2021 will not be a happy year for all, but a holy and healthyyear.