Who is Luis Antonio Tagle, the ‘Asian Francis’ seen as a contender for Pope

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is known for his warmth, easy smile, and signature rectangular glasses. The 67-year-old Filipino cleric is considered the leading papal contender from Asia. According to Vatican sources, Tagle checks every box to be named the next pope and is widely viewed as a top candidate to lead the Catholic Church. His credentials include extensive pastoral experience as well as significant administrative expertise, having previously served as Bishop of Imus and later Archbishop of Manila.

Pope Francis’ preferred successor

Pope Benedict XVI named Tagle a cardinal in 2012, making him one of the youngest members of the College of Cardinals at the time. He is now seen as one of the most prepared candidates to succeed Francis, and was considered a favorite when he was appointed prefect. Tagle began praying the rosary at age three, is fluent in both English and Italian, and is especially beloved among younger Catholics for his modest and humble lifestyle.

Like Pope Francis, Tagle has been deeply involved in supporting the poor and defending the rights of migrants, earning him the nickname “the Asian Francis.” He has also not hesitated to speak out when necessary, particularly on the Church’s handling of sexual abuse scandals. Still, despite his popularity, some within the Church may see his relative youth as a disadvantage, favoring candidates whose papacy might be shorter in duration.

See also: The longest conclave in history: 1,006 days, cardinals dying, and only bread and water

Leader of Caritas Internationalis

From 2015 to 2022, Tagle served as the head of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of more than 160 Catholic organizations focused on humanitarian aid and global development. However, his tenure at Caritas has drawn some criticism, which could pose a challenge to his candidacy—especially given the next pope will need to confront the Vatican’s ongoing financial crisis.

In 2022, Pope Francis dismissed the entire Caritas leadership amid accusations of humiliation and harassment in the workplace. While Tagle was the nominal president at the time, he was not directly implicated in the incidents. For now, there is no clear frontrunner to succeed Pope Francis, but some candidates have gained more traction than others. In fact, British betting markets currently favor two names above all: Antonio Tagle and Pietro Parolin.

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