Tagle ‘terrified’ by elevation to cardinal

MANILA, Philippines - To be named a cardinal of the Catholic Church is a source of solace and at the same time terrifying, said Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle.

“To be called to collaborate with the Pope as a cardinal both consoles and terrifies me. I am consoled by the trust and love that the Pope shows to me, to the Archdiocese of Manila and to the whole Church in the Philippines. He wants to hear us and to benefit from our experiences of faith and mission,” Tagle, who was among the new cardinals named by Pope Benedict XVI, said.

In an interview Wednesday evening over Vatican Radio, Tagle expressed his gratitude to the Pope for his trust and confidence in him and the church in Manila and the Philippines.

“I take this not only as a gift but also a call for the Church in the Philippines to take seriously our mission especially in Asia. Nowadays, especially through our migrant Filipino workers all over the world, the Christian faith is made present and spread all over the world. Maybe this is a time for us to thank the Lord and take seriously our mission,” said the 55-year-old cardinal-designate.

Tagle said he would have to broaden his horizon and make a careful study of developments in society and the Church, including the intensification of the mission of the Archdiocese of Manila and the Church in the Philippines, and even outside the country, especially in Asia.

Benedict’s announcement came at an auspicious time, considering that Pedro Calungsod had just been canonized last Sunday. The Catholic Church is also observing the Year of Faith as the Synod of Bishops discusses the New Evangelization.

“These events fill me with much courage and joy, I bow before the God of mercy and entrust our people and our Church to the loving protection of Mary Our Mother,” Tagle said.

He said that with his assumption to the rank of cardinal, he would be bringing with him “optimism and hope.”

“I hear a number of times the fear of some churches that have been used to being the majority and very influential in society. They are afraid of the waning numbers. But that has been the story of the church in Asia for the past 2,000 years. We don’t panic. You live with it. You trust that the Lord is risen and that the Holy Spirit continues to blow in spite of us and, many times, because of us too,” Tagle said.