He never aspires to be a pastor. After he became bishop, he suggested he had imposter syndrome. When the Philippines cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle was asked whether he could be the first Asian pope (a common question in recent years), he said it was impossible.
“Thinking of myself in that position, no, no, I laughed,” Cardinal Tagle told the BBC in 2015. “I can't even manage my life. How do I manage a global community?”
By then, he had been talked about as a potential replacement for Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinal Tagle, 67, pronounced Tag-Leh, is again featured in a short list of many informal “Papabir” cards, or shot well in successful Pope Francis. From Asia's most prominent candidate, his election will be a key marker for the Roman Catholic Church's transfer from Europe to Africa and Asia, where it continues to develop.
Francis is the only pope born outside Europe in modern times. If Cardinal Tagle ascended the pope, he would be the first Asian pope in modern times. (Several popes of ancient times came from Syria, technically in West Asia, although now considered part of the Middle East.)
In the Vatican, Cardinal Tager is responsible for missionary work. His nickname “Chito” is well known and he is often called “Asian Francis” for his ability to connect with the poor, calling for action on climate change and criticism of the “harsh” stance adopted by Catholic priests toward homosexuals, leaving people divorced, and divorced and unmarried mothers. He was popular for his humility, and his fellow countrymen attracted faithfulness to the benches and Facebook streams.
But as the leader of the Philippine church, he was criticized by activists and pastors for his timidity towards the scourge of civil abuse. These complaints continued as his profile rose in the church. Last month, the network of Survivors of Advocates for the Organization of Abuse urged the Vatican to investigate Cardinal Tager's actions in cases of alleged abuse of the instrument in the Central African Republic and New Zealand. (The group also sought inquiries from five other cardinals.)
In addition, in 2022, Pope Francis removed the entire management team of Vatican charity Caritas Internationalis, including Cardinal Tagle, who serves as president. External review identified management and morale issues at Caritas headquarters.
At home, Cardinal Tagle was blamed for not adequately resolving the drug war on former President Rodrigo Duterte, with thousands of people being executed.
“During the Duterte administration, Chito made it clear and brave during the Duterte administration,” said Robert Reyes of the Theological Seminary with Cardinal Tagle.
At that time, the Cardinal was the Archbishop of Manila. He called for “end of waste of human life”, but did not face Mr. Duterte directly.
Cardinal Tager did not respond to an interview request.
Today, Tagle is one of five cardinals in the Philippines. Some Vatican insiders believe Cardinal Pablo Virgilio siongco David also has lower characteristics as a potential pope.
When the Philippine Legislature introduced a bill to make contraceptives more accessible, Cardinal Tager called on lawmakers to refuse contraception. But he later said that he disagreed with his fellow clergymen, who threatened several MPs.
“He tried to convince people rather than intimidate them.” Rev. Joseph A.
When Cardinal Tagle was once the leader of the Philippine church, Mr. Duterte often mocked Catholicism and insulted Pope Francis.
Mr Duterte said he was harassed by a pastor as a child. Some pastors, including Cardinal David, criticized his war on drugs. But Cardinal Tager remained silent. His critics often point to Cardinal Jaime Sin, who played a role in the bid for dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Regarding the issue of document abuse, Cardinal Tagle said the survivor's claim “injured” him. But he also said that survivors should seek justice in the church’s normative process, because “the victims may also feel ashamed once they reach the public.” He said the church should also take care of “the abuser and will definitely get lost.”
“It's a very Asian approach, and this approach leads to recovery,” he told Alliance Catholic Asia News in 2013.
“Sadly, Cardinal Tager is completely disconnected from the reality faced by the sexual abuse of children by the pastor and brother,” said Rev. Shay Cullen, an Irish pastor who works in the Philippines. He said the cardinal told him that the church was more worried about divorce and other things.
Cardinal Tagle's approach promotes an impunity culture in the Philippine church, according to watchdog organization BishopacCountability.org.
Cardinal Tager had admitted to being criticized for being “not strong, my condemnation is not enough,” but he said he cheered up from the example of Francis according to an interview with Crux, a publication specializing in the Catholic Church. “Who should I judge?” he said, repeating Francis' position on a gay priest.
Born in Manila, Cardinal Tagle was raised in Imus by his parents working in a bank. He wanted to be a doctor, but attended the seminary at the top Jesuit University at Ateneo de Manila.
He was appointed 24 years old in 1982 and later wrote his doctoral dissertation on Pope Paul VI of the Catholic University.
Classmate Pastor Peter Bernardi said that in Washington, he often visits the hospice of AIDS patients.
He returned to Eames in 1992, where he was travelled by bicycle or Jeepney, a cheap way of public transportation. Over the next few decades, he was appointed Archbishop of Manila, then Cardinal, and eventually moved to the Vatican.
Now he can take charge of the church's helm.
In the election of Benedict's successor, he was proven to be Francis, Cardinal Tagle wrote to Father Komonchak, asking his former teacher to “pray for me.”
“I think he means he is overwhelmed by the possibility of being elected by the pope,” said Father Komonchak. “Who can't?”
Camille Elemia From Eames, Philippines and Elisabetta Povoledo From Rome.
