Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Taglesaid there is more to being godparents than just giving “pakimkim” (cash gifts) to godchildren.
“You don’t become a good godfather and godmother with such a gift,” he said in a CBCP News post.
“The role of godparents is to help the parents in raising their children in faith,” Tagle added.
The cardinal also lamented how some people are more focused on the gifts or the “party” after baptism.
Tagle stressed:"The depth of faith is not measured by the size of celebration.”
The prefect of the Vatican's Propaganda Fide also reminded parents of the deeper meaning of the sacrament, “which is at times reduced to custom."
"To the parents of the baptized, raise your children in proper upbringing, food, education, good manners and faith. Train them to unite in prayer and the life of the Christian community," said Tagle.
On April 11, the cardinal administered the sacrament on two Filipino toddlers — a boy and a girl — at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.
The Mass was part of the celebration for the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines of the Filipino chaplaincy in Rome.
More than 150,000 Filipinos are spread all over Italy, most of them are in the cities of Rome and Milan.