With a spirit of deep gratitude and renewed purpose, more than 900 delegates from 32 countries gathered for the concluding Mass of the Great Pilgrimage of Hope on November 30 at the ballroom of The Light Hotel, Penang. The celebration marked the culmination of five days of prayer, reflection, and continental dialogue for the Church in Asia.
The Mass was presided over by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), who delivered a stirring homily calling the Church in Asia to walk in the light of the Lord, deepen its commitment to faith-sharing, and return home transformed by the experience of communion.
“Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord”
Preaching from Isaiah 2:1–5, Cardinal Ferrão reflected on the prophet’s vision of a mountain raised high, drawing nations together not for conquest but for instruction and healing.
“Isaiah sees peoples who no longer sharpen weapons but abandon them,” he said. “This is a vision of Asia healed.”
He noted that the Great Pilgrimage itself embodied this hope: “Cardinals, bishops, priests, religious, laity, youth, families, cultures, languages, and histories, stood side by side. We listened to one another’s stories of wounds and hope. Peace is not a distant ideal; it is the fruit of walking together.”
The Cardinal emphasized that Isaiah’s invitation, “Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord”, is not a suggestion but a call to engagement: choosing truth over convenience, dialogue over suspicion, and communion over isolation. He urged the faithful not to return to “old paths of indifference or division” after the pilgrimage.
Pilgrims of Gratitude, Guardians of Unity
Reflecting on Psalm 122, the Cardinal described the joy and responsibility of arriving at the spiritual home of the pilgrimage.
“Psalm 122 reminds us that the fruit of a pilgrimage is not nostalgia, it is service,” he said. “Asian realities such as religious tension, poverty, migration, and environmental vulnerability challenge our witness every day. We must become artisans of peace in our families, parishes, dioceses, and nations.”
The Cardinal underlined that the experience of gathering as one Asian family must translate into a renewed dedication to faith-sharing and compassionate presence.
“The hour has come… put on the Lord Jesus Christ”
Drawing from Romans 13:11–14, Cardinal Ferrão reminded delegates that spiritual renewal is not enough if it does not lead to concrete transformation. “Paul calls us to awake from sleep,” he said. “To put on Christ is to clothe ourselves with His compassion, His simplicity, His courage, His listening heart.”
He emphasized that the future of the Church in Asia cannot rely only on plans and structures but must begin with disciples whose hearts have been changed.
“The hunger for God in Asia is deep. The yearning for justice is real. The thirst for meaning among our young people is intense,”
“Stay awake… be prepared”
Reflecting on the First Sunday of Advent Gospel (Mt 24:37–44), the Cardinal invited the faithful to cultivate attentive discipleship, recognizing God’s presence in unexpected places.
“The Pilgrimage of Hope taught us to find God among migrants and refugees, in interreligious friendships, in the dreams of our youth, in the perseverance of the poor, in the wounds of our divided world — and in the ordinary duties of our ministries and families.”
Like the Magi who returned home “by a different way,” the Cardinal said Asian Christians must also return with new sight, new courage, and new priorities.
A Pilgrimage That Sends Asia Forth
Throughout the gathering, participants prayed for nations in conflict, shared stories of pastoral challenges, and celebrated Asia’s cultural and spiritual diversity.
“If these days end only in memory, we have failed,” Cardinal Ferrão said. “But if they lead us to change of heart, action, and communion, then this Pilgrimage becomes a seed for Asia’s future.”
He urged delegates to return:
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with new humility, ready to learn from their people and from one another;
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with new courage, ready to share Christ through gentleness and joy;
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with new companionship, walking with the poor, migrants, women, youth, and all who seek a place at God’s table;
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with new hope, believing that God is shaping Asia through their faithful service.
Sent Home by Another Road
In concluding his homily, Cardinal Ferrão said the Lord now sends every pilgrim back to their homes and ministries by another road, the road of synodality, dialogue, peacebuilding, listening, and accompaniment.
“Let this be our commitment,” he said:
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To walk together.
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To listen deeply.
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To serve generously.
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To witness joyfully.
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To go a different way, Christ’s way.
He entrusted the delegates to Mary, Star of Faith, and prayed that the Holy Spirit keep them awake and that the Father lead all peoples of Asia into the light of His peace.
With that, the Cardinal concluded: “Go forth. Your pilgrimage has become a vocation of hope.”
