Tagle elevated to Cardinal Bishop

MANILA, Philippines — Former Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has been elevated to a cardinal bishop, the highest rank in the College of Cardinals at the Vatican.

Manila Cathedral rector Fr. Reginald Malicdem, Tagle’s former personal secretary, said the Vatican announced Tagle’s elevation to cardinal bishop at around noon in Rome or Friday evening in the Philippines.

Pope Francis reportedly named Tagle as cardinal bishop on April 14.

Aside from Tagle, Pope Francis also named Italian Cardinal Beniamino Stella Porto, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, as cardinal bishop.

The College of Cardinals is composed of three orders – the cardinal of deacons, priests and the bishops.

The cardinal deacons usually work in the Roman Curia while the cardinal priests – where most cardinals are assigned – are those that are designated in the more important dioceses around the world and in some offices at the Roman Curia.

The Archdiocese of Manila said that the cardinal bishops, numbering 11, hold the highest rank and “suburbicarian titles” of important Roman Catholic dioceses within the vicinity of Rome.

Malicdem said that they are very proud of the cardinal’s elevation as he assured him of prayers in his endeavors.

“We are so proud of him. We assure him of our prayers. It’s an honor given to the Catholic Church in the Philippines,” Malicdem said as he emphasized that Tagle’s elevation could not be considered as a promotion, but a “title” given to him.

Malicdem said Tagle’s job description in the Vatican will remain as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Peoples even if he was named cardinal bishop. He was appointed to the Vatican post on Dec. 8, 2019.

Tagle left the Philippines to assume his post at the Vatican in February 2020.

Asked if Tagle’s elevation would boost his chance of becoming a pope, Malicdem said “only God Knows.”

Tagle’s mother Milagros previously said in an interview that she felt grateful for the blessings of her son as she emphasized that his works in the Catholic Church are finally being recognized.

“It’s a great honor, at least what he has done for the Church is being recognized now. And for that I am very thankful,” Milagros said.

Tagle is the second Filipino to become prefect of a dicastery, following the late Jose Tomas Cardinal Sanchez, who served as prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy from 1991 to 1996.

During his stint as Archbishop of Manila, Tagle was elected as president of Caritas Internationalis, with headquarters also located in the Vatican.

Tagle was ordained priest for the Imus diocese in 1982. He served as rector of the Imus cathedral in 2001, when Saint John Paul II named him bishop of the diocese in October of the same year.

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Tagle as Archbishop of Manila in October 2011 and, 13 months later, during the last consistory of the pontificate of Benedict, he received the cardinal’s hat.