In his New Year's message, Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila urged Filipinos to never stop striving for peace and to keep hope in their hearts, even amid failures in achieving national progress. He emphasized that true peace begins within individuals and grows through humility, dialogue, mercy, and trust. Despite the country's challenges, he assured that the Lord will never abandon his people.
In his New Year's message delivered on January 1, 2026, Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila highlighted the importance of striving for peace amid the nation's challenges. "Peace is not achieved by force or fear, but by a disarmed heart and a disarming way of life. True peace begins within us, rejects violence and domination, and grows through humility, dialogue, mercy and trust," he stated.
The cardinal admitted that, like many Filipinos, he feels the "scourge" of a people longing for peace and progress without success. "Like most of you, I often feel the scourge of a people who have been wanting peace and progress, but to no avail. We can’t seem to get our act together. We often fail miserably," he added.
He echoed the sentiments of Pope Leo XIV and expressed prayers for the country's peace. Despite the difficulties, Advincula encouraged people not to lose hope, assuring that the Lord will never abandon his people. This message offers inspiration at the start of 2026, signaling hope amid the Philippines' trials.