Press Release
December 9, 2019

STATEMENT OF SENATOR RICHARD J. GORDON ON CARDINAL LUIS ANTONIO TAGLE'S APPOINTMENT TO A TOP VATICAN POST

I extend my warmest congratulations to Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle for his appointment as the new Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples or the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith or Propaganda Fide. I am very happy for him being named head of this dicastery, which is one of the top posts in the Vatican.

Tagle's appointment brings pride and joy to our country because it is another manifestation that the world recognizes the ability and talent of Filipinos. Tagle is the second Filipino to become prefect of a dicastery, following the late Cardinal Jose Tomas Sanchez, who served as prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy from 1991 until 1996. Their appointments show that the leadership abilities of our Cardinals are recognized by the Popes.

Tagle deserves this new post. Aside from leading his diocese, the Diocese of Manila, he has also been serving since 2015 as president of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of Catholic charities around the world. As Caritas head, Tagle travels throughout the world to visit Caritas projects.

Personally, I am happy for my cousin and very proud of him. Chito's, as we fondly call him, new post would see him moving to Rome from where he would oversee the Roman Catholic Church's work in many developing countries. As a news report noted, the appointment is likely to increase his chances of being elected pope one day.

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