The Professional-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization speaks with Vatican Information about Pope Leo XIV, shares his religious expertise of the conclave, and displays on the legacy of Pope Francis almost a month after his passing.
By Alessandro Gisotti
Within the Sistine Chapel, in the course of the Conclave, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost sat subsequent to one another. As we speak, throughout a non-public viewers, they met as soon as once more, one week after Pope Leo XIV’s election and his first Urbi et Orbi blessing.
The American-Peruvian cardinal and the Filipino cardinal have recognized one another for a few years and, over the previous two, have labored collectively intently as heads of their respective dicasteries—Bishops and Evangelization. On this interview with Vatican Information, Cardinal Tagle gives a private portrait of the brand new Pope, recounts the religious expertise of the Conclave, and displays on Pope Francis’ legacy.
Cardinal Tagle, Pope Leo XIV has begun his preach following a fast conclave. What stands out to you about this Pope, whom we’re all simply starting to know?
I first met Pope Leo XIV in Manila and in Rome when he was nonetheless the Prior Normal of the Order of St. Augustine. We labored collectively within the Roman Curia beginning in 2023. He has a deep and affected person capability for listening and engages in cautious research and reflection earlier than making a choice. The Pope expresses his emotions and preferences with out imposing them. He’s intellectually and culturally well-prepared, however with out exhibiting off. In his relationships, Pope Leo brings a peaceful heat, formed by prayer and missionary expertise.
On the eve of the Conclave, many spoke of a divided Church and cardinals with unclear concepts about selecting a brand new Pope. But the election concluded on the second day. How did you expertise this Conclave, your second after 2013?
Earlier than any main, world occasion, you hear hypothesis, evaluation and predictions–and a conclave isn’t any totally different. I’ve participated in two conclaves which I depend as an actual grace. Within the conclave of 2013, Pope Benedict XVI was nonetheless alive, whereas within the conclave of 2025, Pope Francis had handed into everlasting life. We must always keep in mind the distinction in context and environment. Whereas every of the 2 conclaves was a singular and unrepeatable expertise, some components stay fixed.
In 2013, I puzzled why we needed to put on choral apparel in the course of the conclave. Then I discovered and skilled {that a} conclave is a liturgical occasion – a time and area for prayer, for listening to God’s Phrase, the stirrings of the Holy Spirit, the groanings of the Church, humanity and creation, for private and communal purification of motivations, and for worship and adoration of God, whose will should reign supreme. Each Pope Francis and Pope Leo have been elected on the second day. The conclave teaches us, our households, parishes, dioceses, and nations that communion of minds and hearts is feasible if we worship the true God.
White smoke comes out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Might 8, 2025 (ANSA)
Within the Sistine Chapel, you have been sitting subsequent to Cardinal Prevost. How did he react when the two/3 majority vote was reached?
His response alternated between smiling and respiratory deeply. It was holy resignation and holy worry mixed. I silently prayed for him. The second he bought the required variety of votes, a thunderous applause erupted, (very similar to on the election of Pope Francis). The Cardinals expressed pleasure and gratitude for his or her brother, Cardinal Prevost. But it surely was additionally an intimate second between Jesus and him, which we couldn’t enter nor disturb. I stated to myself, “Let holy silence envelope Jesus and Peter.”
After a son of St. Ignatius, we’ve a son of St. Augustine. What do you suppose it signifies that the Church has one Pontiff after one other who belonged to a significant non secular order, an Augustinian after a Jesuit?
St. Augustine and St. Ignatius had many issues in frequent. They each had worldly careers and skilled a restlessness that led to adventurous pursuits. Then, on the time appointed by God, they present in Jesus what their hearts desired, “Magnificence ever historic, ever new”, “Everlasting Lord of all issues.” The Augustinian and Ignatian “faculties” come up from a standard floor of God’s graciousness and mercy which frees the center to like, serve and go on mission.
Whereas retaining his Augustinian spirit, Pope Leo will even echo the Ignatian spirit of Pope Francis. I imagine the entire Church – and certainly the entire of humanity – will profit from their items. In any case, St. Augustine and St. Ignatius (and all of the saints) are treasures of the entire Church.
Cardinal Prevost was a missionary bishop. He was born and raised in the USA, however shaped as a priest and pastor in Peru. Some have stated he’s the “Pope of two worlds.” Out of your perspective in Asia, how do individuals view such a Pope?
With out denying the primacy of grace within the ministry of Pope Leo, I imagine that his human, cultural, non secular and missionary background will give a singular face to his ministry. However that is true of all Popes. The Petrine ministry of strengthening brothers and sisters within the religion in Jesus, the Son of the dwelling God, stays the identical—however every Pope lives and workouts it by means of his distinctive humanity. Pope Leo’s multi-continental and multi-cultural background will certainly assist him in his ministry and profit the Church. The individuals of Asia love the Pope as Pope, whichever nation he comes from. He’s beloved not solely by Catholics, but in addition by different Christians and followers of non-Christian religions.
Many individuals have been “supporting” you, hoping you’ll develop into Pope. How did you expertise that? Had been you conscious that you simply have been, as they are saying in Italian, a number one “papabile”?
As somebody who doesn’t get pleasure from being put within the limelight, I discovered the eye fairly unsettling. I attempted to muster religious and human power so as to not be affected. I meditated so much on the phrases of the apostolic structure Universi Dominici Gregis regarding “the grave obligation incumbent on (the Cardinals) and thus on the necessity to act with proper intention for the nice of the Common Church, “solum Deum prae oculis habentes.”
Whereas inserting his poll, every Cardinal says, “I name as my witness Christ the Lord who might be my decide, that my vote is given to the one who, earlier than God, I believe needs to be elected.” It’s clear that there are not any “candidates” within the worldly sense of political elections, the place a vote for one is a vote in opposition to one other. Whenever you search the nice of the Common Church, you don’t look for winners and losers. This guideline purifies the thoughts and brings peace.
We’re approaching the one month anniversary of Pope Francis’ loss of life. In your view, what would be the most lasting legacy he leaves to the Church and to humanity?
My coronary heart is gladdened by the quite a few testimonies given by the Catholic devoted, non-Catholic Christian communities and members of non-Christian religions in regards to the instructing and legacy of Pope Francis. I hope these testimonies proceed to develop and be “gathered” as a part of our understanding not solely of Pope Francis but in addition of the Petrine ministry.
Individually, I might spotlight his reward of humanity—of being human to others—which marked his Preach. When you have a private story to inform about him, share it. Our world must rediscover and to nurture the wonder and price of being authentically human. Pope Francis, by means of his easy and even frail humanity, has contributed immensely to this search, not for his personal glory, however for the higher glory of God, who in Jesus turned totally human.
