CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
OF METROPOLITAN PAUL OF MANILA AND HANOI
TO THE CLERGY AND FAITHFUL
OF THE PHILIPPINE–VIETNAMESE DIOCESE
“I behold a strange and most glorious mystery:
Heaven — the cave; the Cherubic Throne — the Virgin;
the manger — the dwelling place,
in which Christ God, whom nothing can contain, has lain;
Whom we praise and magnify in song.”
(Irmos of the Canon of the Nativity of Christ)
Beloved pastors in the Lord, venerable monks and nuns,
dear brothers and sisters!
I cordially congratulate all of you on the great, world‑saving Feast of the Nativity of Christ and on the New Year!
Once again the Star of Bethlehem shines over the world, proclaiming the saving event of the Incarnation of God. The Feast of the Nativity of Christ is illumined by divine light, as proclaimed in the Church’s hymns. The joy, triumph, and truly heavenly grandeur of this celebrated event do not fade with time and are never diminished. The holy Apostle Peter proclaims: “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16).
In the poor cave of Bethlehem the Nativity of Christ took place, and at the same time in Heaven the Angels of God glorified the newborn Divine Child, singing the hymn so familiar to us from childhood: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men” (Luke 2:14).
May this solemn feast be blessed for us today as well— inexhaustible in its grace, ever proclaiming that with Christ a new life has been born for us: a life free from sin, filled with peace and love.
How we wish that every person living today would be filled with joy at the coming of Christ the Savior into the world; that the noise of everyday life would not drown out the angelic hymn: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men”; that in our pride we would not neglect the wise simplicity of the shepherds, who were the first to come and worship the Divine Child; that each of us, like the Magi, would follow the star leading to an encounter with God.
The Lord has commanded us to love one another, to bring Christ’s peace and goodness to people, to be gentle and patient, to be steadfast in prayer and in service to our neighbors, and above all to help the weak and those in need. In all this, may God Himself help us and make us worthy of being illumined by the light that shone forth for us in the Nativity of our Lord and Savior!
Entering the New Year of the Lord’s goodness in peace and love (Psalm 65:12), let us pray that the coming year may become a time of God’s blessing and prosperity, a year of peace and well‑being for our homeland and for each one of us. “Rejoice, be comforted, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11).
By the Grace of God,
METROPOLITAN OF MANILA AND HANOI
THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST
2025/2026
