Cardinal Tagle Urges Macau Diocese to Embrace its Mission as a ‘Living Church’ at 450th Anniversary

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle urged the Diocese of Macau to renew its identity and mission as a “living church” as it celebrated the 450th anniversary of its establishment.

The Diocese of Macau is the oldest modern Catholic diocese in the Far East. It was established on January 23, 1576, by Pope Gregory XIII through the papal bull Super Specula Militantis Ecclesiae.

Presiding at the solemn Mass at Macau Forum on October 31, Cardinal Tagle said the anniversary was an opportunity not only to celebrate the diocese’s long history but also to reflect on what it means to be a diocese and how it should serve its people.

The Mass at Forum de Macau, a major event venue in the city was concelebrated by more than 15 bishops, including Bishop Stephen Lee Bun-sang of Macau, Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan of Hong Kong, and Cardinal Sebastian Francis of Penang. More than 100 priests concelebrated the Eucharist, which was attended by approximately 5,000 faithful.

“We praise and thank our benevolent and gracious God, who has gathered as a community, as a family of faith, as we join the Diocese of Macau in celebrating the 450th anniversary of her establishment,” Cardinal Tagle said in his homily.

He conveyed warm greetings from Pope Leo XIV, who had sent a message to the Diocese of Macau for the anniversary. Tagle also said the pope thanked those who had been praying for him.

The cardinal noted that the Gospel had reached the region years before the Diocese of Macau was formally established in 1576. Missionaries from different parts of the world brought the Gospel to the area, making the diocese a fruit of evangelization.

For Cardinal Tagle, this history also carries a responsibility.

“Being a fruit of evangelization, the diocese of Macau can be fruitful only by being active, creative, and courageous evangelizers herself,” he said.

He encouraged the local church to continue sharing the Gospel not only with people in Macau but also with those who come to the territory from other parts of the world.

“If you cannot go to the world, the world will come here,” Cardinal Tagle said, pointing to the diversity of the priests and faithful gathered for the celebration.

The cardinal then posed a fundamental question: What is a diocese?

He recalled how people can sometimes lose sight of the meaning behind important religious celebrations. He compared this to baptism being reduced to a meal or marriage becoming focused primarily on wedding clothes and expenses.

The anniversary, he said, should therefore be a moment for the Diocese of Macau to rediscover its deeper identity.

Quoting the Second Vatican Council’s decree Christus Dominus, Cardinal Tagle explained that a diocese is a portion of the people of God entrusted to a bishop, who shepherds the community with the cooperation of priests.

“A diocese is not just an organization. It is not just a structure. It is not just offices, but it is a living community,” he said.

The community is gathered and united through the Gospel and the Eucharist, Tagle explained. The bishop, working with the presbyterate, serves as a visible principle of unity.

He warned against allowing other forces, such as ambition or economic interests, to become the basis of unity within the church.

Cardinal Tagle encouraged Catholics, particularly young people, to respond to invitations to study the Word of God and deepen their faith. He contrasted this with the enthusiasm often shown for celebrities, singers and actors.

The cardinal also reminded the Diocese of Macau that it is part of the universal Catholic Church. Its communion extends beyond its territory to other local churches around the world, sharing the same Gospel, Eucharist and apostolic faith.

He then turned to the second theme of his homily: what it means for the Diocese of Macau to be “blessed.”

Because the Mass was celebrated on the vigil of All Saints, Cardinal Tagle connected the anniversary with the witness of saints, both those officially recognized by the Church and the many unknown saints who have lived their faith quietly.

He noted that people often associate being blessed with material success, such as winning the lottery. But the Beatitudes present a different understanding of blessedness.

Jesus calls blessed the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the clean of heart and the peacemakers. He also calls blessed those who are persecuted and insulted for the sake of righteousness.

For Cardinal Tagle, this means that the Church’s blessedness cannot be measured simply by worldly achievements.

“Blessed are you, Diocese of Macau. Please take the path of the beatitude and be in communion with saints, known and unknown,” he said.

He urged the Diocese of Macau to express its blessedness through solidarity with people who are poor, grieving, vulnerable, persecuted or marginalized.

As it enters its next chapter, Cardinal Tagle encouraged the diocese to remain rooted in its identity as a local church while maintaining communion with other Catholic communities around the world.

The 450th anniversary, he said, is therefore not simply a celebration of the past. It is an invitation to renew the diocese’s mission, to remain united in the Gospel and Eucharist, to evangelize courageously and to walk with those who depend on God amid life’s trials.