Tagle elated over promotion to cardinal-bishop

MANILA – Two days after he was named as cardinal-bishop, former Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Monday expressed gratitude to all the people for their kind words after being elevated to a position which is the highest rank within the College of Cardinals.

In a video message posted in the Facebook account of Dominus Est, Tagle thanked all those who greeted him and sent their congratulations.

“First of all, I would like to thank you for your kind words and greetings. This is unexpected but we, in faith and trust in the Lord, and the Holy Father, we said yes. I know I am not alone, you are with us in prayer, in communion and service of the church. So thank you very much. We pray for you, too,” the Archbishop-Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Manila added.

The Dominus Est, a new website to share stories and testimonies, encourages the faithful to lead a life of missionary disciples which was launched by Tagle last year. It is under the Office for the Promotion of the New Evangelization (OPNE) of the Manila archdiocese.

According to its website, Dominus Est means “It is the Lord!” (Jn 21:7). It is also Tagle’s episcopal motto.

On the other hand, Rev. Father Gregory Gaston, rector of Ponficio Collegio Filipino in Rome, said the Filipino community in the Italian capital is proud of Tagle’s newest position.

“We at the Collegio Filipino, and because we are with him during lunch, breakfast, and dinner. Of course, we are all happy. It’s an honor for us,” he said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas.

The Catholic priest added that as cardinal-bishop, Tagle will be among the closest collaborators of Pope Francis in managing the Universal Church which has 1.2-billion members all over the world.

Aside from Tagle, there are 10 other cardinal bishops in the Vatican and three other cardinal-bishops from the Eastern Rite of the Catholic Church.

“They have the power, very strong. What is their power? The power to serve our brothers and sisters,” he added,

On Saturday, Pope Francis elevated the 62-year-old Filipino cardinal to the highest rank within the College of Cardinals.

Tagle is the prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples which he assumed in February. He was appointed to the post by the Pope last December.