Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle while celebrating mass during Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, at the Roman Catholic Archbishop chapel in Manila, February 13, 2013. Tagle, 55, who became a cardinal in November 2012, is among those mentioned as possible successors of Pope Benedict XVI, who surprised the world on Monday when he announced his resignation due at the end of the month. (MNS photo)
MANILA, Feb 18 (Mabuhay) – Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle admitted that as a newbie cardinal, he still does not know much about the process of selecting a new pope.
“Inaamin ko po, hindi ko pa alam kung anong gagawin, kung paano boboto,” he said, adding that this function is something that he is still studying and contemplating much about.
Asked by the media about his preparations for the upcoming conclave, he said all he is doing for now is to pray.
He said he does not even know as to when he will be called to the Vatican.
He said he was “caught by surprise” by Pope Benedict XVI’s sudden resignation this month. Nevertheless, Tagle said that this only shows the integrity of the pope, saying that he was just being realistic given his current health condition. “His physical and mental strength was waning,” the cardinal said.
“He showed integrity by not clinging to his position, for the good of the ministry.”
Tagle also expressed admiration on the pope’s leadership. “The thing that strikes me the most about the pontificate of the pope is that he wanted to bring the Church to go back to the basics.”
Tagle was the guest speaker in a leadership forum attended by a number of previous Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardees on Sunday afternoon at the Araneta Center in Cubao. In his talk, he stressed some important elements of leadership. (MNS)