Tagle to parents: Choose ‘spiritually rich’ Godparents

MANILA, Philippines — Parents should choose “spiritually rich” godparents for their children, noting that their financial status is unimportant, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle said recently.

Tagle, the pro-prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization, gave this advice during his homily for the Easter mass at the Landmark Chapel in Makati, according to the CBCPNews, the official news service provider of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

“Unfortunately, some choose godparents who are corrupt, greedy,” said Tagle, who previously served as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Manila before he transferred to the Vatican.

“Remember that the role of ninong and ninang is not to give gifts. They are supposed to be models of Christian life,” he added.

On Easter Sunday, Catholics renew their baptismal vows. Tagle reminded parishioners that with baptism, the desired outcome is being “dead to sin and alive for God.”

“Please, please respect the death of Christ,” the Vatican official said. “Jesus died on the cross and God raised Him from the dead to bring us new life.”

The former Manila archbishop also urged the faithful “not to waste” the gift of Easter and to share the gift of baptism with the whole world.

“Transmit this gift of baptism to your grandchildren, to your children, to your friends. Let us not waste this Easter gift,” he said.