Cardinal Tagle Brings Papal Closeness to Migrant Church in Arabia
From 16 to 18 December 2025, Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Pro Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, carried the greetings and blessing of Pope Leo XIV to the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, in a visit received locally as a tangible sign of papal closeness. The journey unfolded within a region shaped by migration, cultural plurality, and interreligious coexistence, where Catholic life is sustained largely by expatriate communities. Cardinal Tagle’s presence underscored the Vatican’s attention to churches living as minorities, navigating pastoral care without the structures common in traditionally Catholic societies. His meetings and liturgical celebrations reflected an approach centered on accompaniment rather than ceremony, emphasizing that ecclesial unity is possible even in contexts marked by transience and legal constraint. For many faithful, particularly migrant workers, the visit affirmed that their daily struggles and quiet perseverance remain visible within the wider life of the Church.
At the heart of the visit were the Simbang Gabi celebrations, the Filipino Christmas novena that draws the largest gatherings of the year across the Vicariate. Cardinal Tagle presided at Masses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, attended by tens of thousands of faithful, reflecting the demographic weight and spiritual vitality of the Filipino community. In his homilies, the Cardinal invited participants to prepare for Christmas through concrete acts of welcome, reconciliation, and attentiveness to others. Drawing on the figures of Mary and Joseph, he spoke of a faith capable of shaping daily life amid uncertainty, work pressure, and separation from family. The scale of participation highlighted the Church’s role as a place of belonging and stability, offering spiritual grounding to communities living far from their countries of origin and often on the margins of public life.
Beyond the liturgy, the visit placed strong emphasis on pastoral dialogue and shared responsibility. Cardinal Tagle met with Bishop Paolo Martinelli, clergy, pastoral leaders, and representatives of linguistic communities, reflecting on how to safeguard unity amid diversity. Particular attention was given to formation, youth ministry, and the cultivation of ecumenical and interreligious relationships within a Muslim majority environment. A recurring theme was intercultural participation, with the Cardinal encouraging different communities to serve together rather than in parallel structures. He described this shared journey as a joyful polyphony of faith, where cultural richness strengthens rather than fragments ecclesial life. Meetings with the pastoral council of Saint Mary’s Church in Dubai, widely regarded as the largest Catholic parish in the world, reinforced the vision of a Church of migrants called to witness hope through collaboration, patience, and mutual care.
