Posted by ReyFort Media
Pope Leo XIV has approved the election of Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as dean of the College of Cardinals, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News reported Friday.
Tagle, 69, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization’s Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, succeeds Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 92, who has held the post since January 2020.
Tagle is the first Asian cleric selected to lead the elite group that one day will choose Leo’s successor.
Tagle has served as a senior Vatican official since 2020. He was widely seen as a likely papal candidate in the May 2025 conclave that elected Leo to lead the Church after the death of the late Pope Francis.
The dean of the college of cardinals is considered the “first among equals” among the Church’s highest-ranking clerics and is responsible for taking charge of the secretive conclave process, held in the Sistine Chapel, once a pope dies or resigns.
The dean, elected by his peers and approved by the pope, serves a five-year term that can be renewed once, according to Church law. The role has mostly been filled by Europeans, but was held by the late Beninese Cardinal Bernardin Gantin from 1993-2002.
Tagle is seen as a close ally of Pope Francis and is known for an infectious smile and is sometimes called by his diminutive nickname “Chito”. He leads the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization, effectively the Church’s missionary arm.
Following his election, Cardinal Tagle will assume the title of the Suburbicarian Church of Ostia while retaining the title of the Suburbicarian Church of Albano.
As dean, Cardinal Tagle will hold an important leadership position within the College of Cardinals, the body of senior Church leaders who advise the Pope and have specific responsibilities during a papal transition.
Born in Manila, Philippines, Cardinal Tagle previously served as Archbishop of Manila before taking on his current leadership role at the Dicastery for Evangelization. He is widely known for his pastoral ministry and commitment to evangelization.
His election marks a significant milestone for the Filipino Catholic community in the Philippines and around the world, including the many Filipinos living in Italy who maintain close ties with the Vatican and the Catholic Church.
Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV told the faithful gathered for the Angelus on Sunday that his doctors have found a “localized nodule” in his lung and he will be operated
Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after doctors confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican announced Tuesday evening.
“The Holy Father was in the operating room for approximately three hours, while the procedure itself lasted about 90 minutes,” the statement continued. “The operation was successful, and there were no complications. After surgery, the pope regained consciousness normally and, following a brief period of observation, returned to his room on the 10th floor.”
Further postoperative tests, including a histological examination, are expected in the coming days. Doctors have not discussed chemotherapy or similar treatments at this stage.
Pope Leo thanked everyone for their spiritual closeness and entrusted himself to our prayers.
(With a report from P. Abucay/Reuters/LDF, GMA News and Vatican News)
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