Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 2) – The newly-appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Manila archdiocese said that the promotion of Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle is an honor for both him and the Filipino faithful.
Pope Francis promoted Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle to the rank of Cardinal-Bishop, the highest title of a Cardinal in the Catholic Church on Friday.
Tagle joined the ranks of 12 others in the Order of Bishops, who are mostly from the Latin Churches and three cardinal patriarchs from the Oriental Churches.
READ: Pope Francis promotes Cardinal Tagle to rank of Cardinal-Bishop
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo told CNN Philippines that the position of Cardinal-Bishop is important, and the Pope’s decision to promote Tagle is “a sign of great trust and honor” for him.
“Siyempre yung honor na binigay kay Cardinal dahil siya ay Pilipino, somehow we are also honored,” Pabillo said in an interview.
[Translation: Of course, the honor given to the Cardinal because he is Filipino, somehow we are also honored.]
“At lalong lalo na ang Archdiocese of Manila, na nanggaling siya sa Archdiocese of Manila, it’s also an honor to Archdiocese of Manila,” he added.
[Translation: Most especially [it’s an honor] for the Archdiocese of Manila, since it is where he came from, it’s also an honor for the Archdiocese of Manila.]
According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, cardinal bishops hold jurisdiction over a church in a suburb of Rome, while working in departments of the Roman Curia, the central administration of the church.
When asked what characteristics he believed made Tagle well-suited for the position, Pabillo said the previous position Tagle held as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples played an important part.
“Because of his experience, he has been all over the world, because of his work in the Caritas Internationalis, and also because of his prudence,”
“The Pope probably [saw] his prudence in his decision, his wisdom kaya sya pinromote dito,” he added.
[Translation: The Pope probably saw his prudence in his decision, his wisdom, that’s why he was promoted.]
Meanwhile, when asked if Tagle could be the first Filipino successor to the Pope in the future, Pabillo said that it’s too early to say.
“Alam niyo naman lahat ng mga cardinal naman ay maaring maging Santo Papa kaya it’s so early to speculate kasi lahat naman sila ay mga Santo Papa,” Pabillo said.
[Translation: You know, all the cardinals can be Pope so it’s early to speculate because they all can become Pope.]
“Kaya i-alay nalang natin sa Panginoon. Kung ano’ng kalooban ng Panginoon, yun ang tanggapin natin,” he added.
[Translation: So let’s offer [the decision] to the Lord. What the Lord wants, that’s what we accept.]
Cardinal Tagle’s new appointment was made on May 1, 2020, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.
