As the Catholic Church mourns the passing of Pope Francis, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has urged the faithful to refrain from publicly promoting Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle as a potential successor, underscoring the need to uphold the sanctity and independence of the papal election process.
In a recent interview with church-run Radio Veritas, CBCP Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs Executive Secretary Rev. Fr. Jerome Secillano cautioned against calls circulating online and within Church circles pushing for the Filipino cardinal to be elected as the next pontiff.
“We leave it to the cardinal electors to decide who will succeed Pope Francis. It’s not prudent for the public to promote Cardinal Tagle as the next Pope, as this could create the impression that the conclave might be swayed by external influences if Cardinal Tagle is elected as the next pontiff,” he said.
Secillano, who also serves as the spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Manila, stressed that the election of the new Pope must be conducted with complete freedom and without any form of external pressure or lobbying.
“The independence of the electors must be respected, and the least we can do is pray for Cardinal Tagle and the other cardinal electors,” he added.
Cardinal Tagle, 67, currently serves as the Pro-Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization, one of the most influential offices in the Roman Curia.
Previously, he served as Archbishop of Manila from 2011 to 2019, before being appointed by Pope Francis to his Vatican post.
He is widely regarded as a close ally of the late Pope and a strong advocate for pastoral outreach, interreligious dialogue, and missionary work.
The conclave is a sacred assembly of cardinal electors convened to choose a new Pope following the death or resignation of a pontiff.
Only cardinals under the age of 80 at the time of the Pope’s passing are eligible to vote.
Deliberations are held behind closed doors at the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, under strict secrecy and guided by prayerful discernment.
Per CBCP, there are currently 135 cardinal electors around the world, including three from the Philippines—Cardinal Tagle; Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, who is the current CBCP president; and Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula.
Despite public admiration for Cardinal Tagle’s leadership and global stature, Church officials stressed that the faithful must allow the conclave to proceed without undue influence, and instead unite in prayer for the future of the Church.
As preparations for the conclave are expected to begin soon, the Vatican continues to lead the Church in a period of mourning and reflection, honoring Pope Francis’ transformative legacy centered on compassion, humility, synodality, and care for the marginalized.