President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday told devout Filipinos to deepen their Christian faith by sharing blessings with the underprivileged and marginalized.

In a message during the observance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in the country, where 80 percent of the population is Catholic, Marcos urged the Filipino faithful to find inspiration in the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary to overcome limitations.

"During these challenging times for our country, let us draw inspiration from the narrative of the Immaculate Conception as we overcome our limitations and draw on our strengths to see the world with grateful hearts and explore the deep meaning of our purpose in life," he said.

He added: "May this auspicious occasion allow us to fortify our Christian faith and inspire our fellow faithful to share our blessings to the poor and marginalized as a way of perpetuating peace, generosity, and kindness around us."

He also urged everyone to pray sincerely for the Blessed Virgin Mary's intercession and the Lord Almighty's direction in the work to build the "Bagong Pilipinas" (New Philippines) that the Filipino people have always dreamed of.

Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on 8 December every year. The Catholic community honors Mary's conception without original sin on this day.

Pope Pius IX's papal encyclical, which officially defined the belief in the Immaculate Conception, Ineffabilis Deus, on 8 December 1854, marked the beginning of the feast's commemoration.

In honor of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the Principal Patroness of the Philippines, 8 December, is designated as a special non-working holiday under Republic Act 10966, which was signed into law by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2017.