MANILA – Former Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
In an article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news website, the news was announced by Pontificio Collegio Filippino (PCF) in Rome on Wednesday.
“God wants him to continue serving in the Vatican’s office for the Missions, to bring God’s Good News of love, joy, peace, justice, forgiveness, and reconciliation – all of which the world needs in a special way these days,” said Fr. Gregory Gaston, PCF Rector.
Tagle has recovered 13 days after he contracted the disease.
“We wish him all the best in his short visit to the Philippines, to rest a bit and be with his family back home,” Gaston added.
On September 10, Tagle tested positive for Covid-19 upon his arrival in Manila from Rome.
He is the prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and president of Caritas Internationalis.
Before leaving Rome, Tagle had undergone a Covid-19 test on September 7, which turned out to be negative.
He was the first Roman curia dicastery head to have caught the virus.
At least four bishops in the country got infected with Covid-19.
Two of them – retired Imus Bishop Manuel Sobreviñas and Lingayen-Dagupan Emeritus Archbishop Oscar Cruz – died, while the other two – Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo and retired Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez – have fully recovered.