After a month-long visit to the Philippines and a bout with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has fully recovered and is now back in Rome.
CBCP News said the cardinal left Manila on Saturday evening to return to his work in the Vatican as prefect of the Congregation of the Evangelization of Peoples.
Before leaving Manila, Tagle celebrated Mass in his hometown of Imus in Cavite.
In his homily at the Imus cathedral, the cardinal called for compassion to fight the coronavirus pandemic as he reminded the faithful that “we are all connected."
“We’re all affected. And hopefully the response of helping, caring, and empathy will be general, an attitude that does not discriminate," Tagle said.
“So we hope that a deeper collaboration will live in the midst of the pandemic. Let us show that this virus can be defeated by stronger love and sympathy,” he added.
The former Manila archbishop returned to the country last Sept. 10 for a brief late summer break seven months after he assumed his Vatican post.
His visit made headlines when he tested positive for COVID-19 upon his arrival in Manila.
After two weeks in quarantine, he took another swab test which turned out negative.
Tagle came home also to visit his elderly parents in Imus, especially his mother, who celebrated her 90th birthday on Sept. 30.
During his visit, the cardinal presided over a Mass at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros and also led the blessing of a COVID-19 testing laboratory run by the Philippine Red Cross in Mandaluyong City.