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Cardinal José Advincula celebrates Mass for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at Pasay City Jail on March 11, 2025. (Our Lady of Sorrows Parish via Facebook)Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila made a pastoral visit to inmates at Pasay City Jail on Tuesday, encouraging them to open their hearts to hope and compassion.
Speaking during a special Mass, the cardinal emphasized that hardened hearts hinder relationships and solidarity.
“An open heart binds us together as brothers and sisters,” Advincula said in his homily.
He also linked his message to the Jubilee Year, describing it as an opportunity to embrace hope and trust in God’s mercy.
“The grace of the Jubilee is the opening of our hearts to hope. The hope in God’s mercy that will never fail us,” he added.
The Mass was concelebrated by Fr. Cris Robert Cellan, SSP, and Fr. Edward Dantis, SSP, of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish.
The archdiocese earlier designated the parish church as the Jubilee church for persons deprived of liberties (PDLs) and their families.
In December 2024, Pope Francis visited Rebibbia New Complex Prison in Rome—one of the largest jail facilities in Italy—to open a “holy door” for the Church’s 2025 Jubilee.
The Vatican described the event as “historic,” noting it was the first time a sacred portal had been opened at a jail.
The pope called on the faithful to care for prisoners and urged governments to restore hope to inmates through “forms of amnesty or pardon.”
He also emphasized the need for “dignified conditions” in prisons, respect for human rights, and the abolition of the death penalty.
