Could Filipino Cardinal Tagle Be the Successor to Pope Francis?

(SPOT.ph) The Vatican is currently keeping a close eye on Pope Francis' health, but on social media, users are already looking at his potential successors—and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is emerging as a clear favorite.

ICYMI: Pope Francis has been hospitalized since February 14 due to complications from bronchitis that turned into double pneumonia. According to the latest updates from the Vatican, his condition has shown a slight improvement—he “had a restful night, got out of bed, and had breakfast in an armchair.” But concerns over his health remain, especially given his recurring medical issues at 88 years old.

This is where Cardinal Tagle enters the conversation. Tagle has long been considered a rising star in the Catholic Church. For years, his reputation as a charismatic and pastoral leader has made him a strong contender should a papal conclave be called. Tagle's name has been trending on X (formerly Twitter) as users speculate who might take the helm of the Catholic Church.

If elected, Tagle would make history as the first pope to come from Asia.

Also read: Pope Francis Selects Caloocan Bishop as New Cardinal

His path to the Vatican

Tagle was ordained as a priest on February 27, 1982, for the Diocese of Imus. His academic pursuits led him to earn a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from The Catholic University of America.

In 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed Tagle as the Bishop of Imus.

Tagle’s journey to the Vatican began a decade later in 2011 when he was appointed Archbishop of Manila, a role that made him one of the most visible figures in the Catholic Church in Asia. The following year, Pope Benedict XVI elevated him to cardinal at the age of 55, making him one of the youngest members of the College of Cardinals at the time.

His prominence grew even further under Pope Francis, who in 2019 named him Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Vatican office responsible for missionary work.

Like Pope Francis, Cardinal Tagle has always leaned more toward the progressive side. He has consistently advocated for a more compassionate and inclusive Church, particularly toward marginalized groups. For this, he has been dubbed the “Asian Francis.”

In 2015, Tagle spoke to a gathering of young Catholics about the Church's use of "harsh words" in describing LGBTQ+ people, divorced Catholics, and single mothers, saying it only alienates them rather than encourages them to engage with the faith.

“The harsh words that were used in the past… were quite severe. Many people who belonged to those groups were branded and that led to their isolation from the wider society,” Tagle said. “I don’t know whether this is true but I heard that in some circles, Christian circles, the suffering that these people underwent was even considered as a rightful consequence of their mistakes, so spiritualised in that sense. But we are glad to see and hear shifts in that.”

Cardinal Tagle has also been a particularly vocal supporter of Pope Francis' initiatives, especially when it comes to synodality—a collaborative and inclusive approach to Church governance. For him, resistance to this model shows a "fear of change and insecurity about Catholic identity," as he echoes the Pope's call for open dialogue in the Church.

Back home, Tagle condemned the extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration, even launching a parish-based drug rehabilitation program as a nonviolent alternative in 2016. No less than Pope Francis approved of this initiative, with Tagle recalling the Pope’s reaction during a visit to Rome: "He said, 'That’s the way to go. This is the path to take. Continue that.'"

Could Cardinal Tagle really be the next pope?

Over on X, several media outlets like The Mirror, New York Post, and The Independent have been circulating so-called “successors lists,” with Cardinal Tagle present in each one. Others included in the list are Cardinal Pietro Parolin from Italy, Cardinal Wim Eijk from the Netherlands, Cardinal Peter Erdo from Hungary, Cardinal Mario Grech from Malta, and Cardinal Fridolin Besungu from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to name a few.

Here’s the thing, though: there is no official successors list for the papacy.

The process of electing a new pope is conducted by the College of Cardinals in a conclave, with the proceedings kept highly confidential. Speculations by media have no bearing on the actual selection process. Historically, the College of Cardinals has elected popes who weren’t even considered frontrunners, so the final outcome is more or less unpredictable.

Still, that hasn’t stopped social media users from backing Cardinal Tagle.

It’s difficult to say whether Cardinal Tagle has a real chance of becoming a leader of the 1.3 billion Catholics around the globe. Even if Pope Francis has taken a liking to him, a sitting pope has no power to choose who comes next. Instead, the decision is made by cardinals under 80, who meet in a papal conclave to vote for the new leader.

When asked back in 2015 about speculation that he could be a future pope, Tagle answered: “I treat it like a joke! It’s funny.”

For now, Pope Francis remains in charge, but if and when the time comes, you can bet who Filipinos will be rooting for.

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