Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle on Wednesday challenged Catholic schools to open their doors even to students who may not meet traditional academic ‘standards.’
Speaking at the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) national convention in Manila, the pro-prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization said Catholic education must embody “living synodality” by prioritizing inclusion.
“How I wish our Catholic educational system will have schools, learning spaces, for those who do not pass entrance exams in other schools,” Tagle said. “Because of standards… to be a student of a Catholic school or a graduate of a Catholic school becomes a badge.”
The former Manila archbishop said rejection from Church-affiliated schools can create a sense of alienation.
“When people are told, ‘You did not pass,’ and the one saying it is an institution connected to the Church, you know the feeling?” he asked. “Some youth say, ‘We are not good enough to belong to the Church.’”
He warned that this exclusion can push young people “toward the path of aloneness and despair,” making them vulnerable to groups that “manipulate and use them” rather than develop their potential. “And then we call them a social problem,” he said.
With the theme, “Living Synodality as Pilgrims of Hope”, the event kicked off on Sept. 30 and will conclude on Oct. 3.
The cardinal urged Catholic educators to turn schools into spaces of collaboration, hope and humility, adding that synodality must be lived out, not just discussed.
“Living synodality [is] walking humbly with God and with others,” he said. “To be a synodal church means to be a church that walks together… it is not a static being with, but a lifestyle of being with others on the same journey.”
He also emphasized that synodality demands respect for freedom and deep listening.
“The concrete exercise of synodality was called ‘conversations in the Spirit,’” Tagle said. “It is a dialogue that respects one’s freedom — to express, to listen, to accept — without destroying each other. No one can claim a monopoly of all wisdom.”
He said that schools should nurture critical thinking, empathy and cultural intelligence as part of this journey.
“No leader can exist without the collaboration of many others,” he said. “Students must learn to walk humbly with God, with each other and with people without an air of superiority.”
After his talk, the cardinal was bestowed this year’s Pro Deo et Patria Award, CEAP’s highest honor, for his lifelong service to the Church especially in education ministry.
