Godparents should be models of Christian life, says Cardinal Tagle

Parents are encouraged to choose ninongs and ninangs who are “models of Christian life,” according to Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.

In a report posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Cardinal Tagle issued the reminder in his homily during the Easter Sunday Mass held at the Landmark Chapel in Makati City.

He added that “godparents should be spiritually rich and that their financial status should be unimportant.”

“Unfortunately, some choose godparents who are corrupt, greedy,” said the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.

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

He was talking about baptism as he also called on the faithful “not to waste the gift of Easter by sharing 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.

Tagle, former archbishop of the Archdiocese of Manila, also preached that “the desired outcome of baptism is being dead to sin and alive for God.”

“Please, please respect the death of Christ,” he said, adding that “Jesus died on the Cross and God raised him from the dead to bring us new life.”

Last February, Cardinal Tagle was presented the title of officer of the Legion of Honor in recognition of his social projects and advocacies by the Ambassador of France to the Holy See, Florence Mangin. — BAP, GMA Integrated News