Cover Know more about Cardinal Chito Tagle, once hailed as the "Cardinal of the People" (Photo: CBCP News)
Know more about Cardinal Chito Tagle, once hailed as the "Cardinal of the People" (Photo: CBCP News)
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Cardinal Luis Antonio “Chito” Gokim Tagle has long embodied the spirit of Pope Francis’s pastoral revolution: less concerned with dogma and more focused on mercy, inclusion and social justice.
As the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church prepares for a sacred period of discernment.
In the Philippines, there’s a name that Filipinos are now hearing often—Cardinal Luis Antonio “Chito” Gokim Tagle. Widely considered a possible future Pope, he has undoubtedly made an impression not only within the islands of the Philippines but also on Catholics outside the country. His cheery personality has painted an approachable quality to his demeanour, along with his humility, compassion and commitment to the marginalised—qualities that led to his recognition as one of Tatler Asia’s Most Influential figures.
Tagle was appointed by Pope Francis in 2019 as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples—an influential Vatican post overseeing missionary work. In 2020, he was elevated to the rank of Cardinal-Bishop, placing him among the highest-ranking members of the College of Cardinals.
In 2024, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Tagle as his special envoy for the National Eucharistic Congress in the United States. “The Holy Father has appointed His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio G Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, as his special envoy to the National Eucharistic Congress in the United States of America, to be celebrated in Indianapolis from 17 to 21 July 2024,” reads the Holy See Press Office bulletin.
Read more: Pope Francis dies at 88: How the first Latin American pontiff impacted the Catholic Church
While his name surfaces in conversations among Filipino Catholics, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) says the choice of the next pope ultimately rests in the hands of the Holy Spirit.
Here are some things you might not know about the Archbishop and Cardinal-Priest.
A fond relationship with Pope Francis
Above Cardinal Tagle greets Pope Francis during World Youth Day in Panama City (Photo: CBCP News)
Cardinal Tagle greets Pope Francis during World Youth Day in Panama City (Photo: CBCP News)
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Cardinal Tagle and Pope Francis shared a deep bond rooted in humility and service. Pope Francis appointed Tagle as prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in 2019 and later as his special envoy to the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress in the U.S. Tagle has described Pope Francis as a leader who embodies love and mercy, values that deeply resonate with him.
Deemed the ‘Asian Pope Francis’
Due to his pastoral style, emphasis on humility, compassion, and outreach to the marginalised, American journalist John Allen described Cardinal Tagle as the “Asian Pope Francis.” Fr Joseph Komonchak, Tagle’s doctoral dissertation director, agrees: “He was, in many respects, by the way he exercised his ministry, a Pope Francis before Pope Francis.”
Cardinal Tagle is a Blue Eagle
Born into a devout Catholic family, the Cardinal went to St. Andrew’s School in Paranaque City for his primary and secondary education, where he graduated valedictorian both times. Upon deciding to take the path of priesthood, he took up Philosophy at Ateneo de Manila University and later Master of Arts in Theology at the Loyola School of Theology. He then completed his licentiate and doctorate at the Catholic University of America in Washington.
He was ordained to the priesthood at 24
Above Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, papal legate to the general conference of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, after the closing Mass in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: CBCP News)
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, papal legate to the general conference of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, after the closing Mass in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: CBCP News)
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At 24 years old, Tagle’s first post was as associate pastor of St. Augustine Parish in the Diocese of Imus. He simultaneously held various positions within the diocese, including a 27-year stint as rector of the Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol in Tagaytay, which he started when he was 27. Amid his work in the Diocese of Imus, he also studied for seven years in Rome.
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He also worked closely with Pope Benedict XVI
In 1997, then-Pope John Paul II appointed Tagle as a member of the International Theological Commission, where he served under then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. His responsibilities included examining and addressing doctrinal questions, including those surrounding the “History of Vatican II”.
Read more: Before the Papacy: Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, St John Paul II
Tagle is the seventh Filipino to be made Cardinal
Above Pope Francis and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Photo: CBCP News)
Pope Francis and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Photo: CBCP News)
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The Holy See appointed Tagle Archbishop of Manila on October 13, 2011, and became responsible for the 2.8 million Roman Catholics in the said metropolitan see. In the Symposium for Healing and Renewal at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, he spoke and acted strongly for the cause of sexual abuse victims in Asia. A year later, Pope Benedict XVI named Archbishop Tagle to the College of Cardinals on October 24 and was assigned the titular church of San Felice da Cantalice a Centocelle.
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