Tagle visits hometown, leads celebration of a new parish in Imus, Cavite

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle made his first trip home after being selected as the Dean of the College of Cardinals and he led the Thanksgiving Mass of a new parish in Imus, Cavite, GMA News' Mariz Umali reported on "24 Oras."

The Parish of San Roque in Imus, Cavite celebrated its elevation as a parish with Cardinal Tagle leading the thanksgiving activities.

It can be recalled that Tagle was the Bishop of the Diocese of Imus in Cavite for 10 years, before becoming the 32nd Archbishop of Manila. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him cardinal.

In 2019, Pope Francis named him prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, a key Vatican department responsible for missionary work.

In March 2022, Tagle became pro-prefect of the section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches. The role involved overseeing matters concerning missionary territories and newly established local churches.

In November 2022, Pope Francis replaced Tagle and the leadership of Caritas Internationalis following a Vatican-ordered review that identified deficiencies in management and procedures.

Pope Leo XIV approved the election of Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as dean of the College of Cardinals on October 8, 2026.

Tagle, 69, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization’s Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, succeeds Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 92, who has held the post since January 2020.

Dean of the College of Cardinals

The Imus native is the first Filipino and Asian cleric selected to lead the elite group that one day will choose Leo's successor.

The College of Cardinals is composed of senior Church leaders who advise the Pope and, when the papacy becomes vacant, elect his successor in a conclave. Only cardinals who meet the requirements under Church law may vote in the papal election.

The Dean serves as the head of the College of Cardinals in a coordinating and representative capacity. The position is often described as primus inter pares, meaning “first among equals.”

Although the Dean does not govern the Church in place of the Pope, the role becomes particularly important when a Pope dies or resigns, and the Church prepares for a new pontificate.

Homily

His homily centered on the celebration of the church's elevation as a parish.

"Biro niyo, ngayon, parokya na ang ating sambayanan... at natutuwa po ako dahil dito sa atin, gumagawa ng bagong parokya," he said.

(Now our community is now a parish... and I'm happy because here among us, a new parish is being built.)

"Sa ibang bahagi ng mundo, nagsasara ang parokya. Alam niyo kung bakit sinasara ang ibang parokya? Wala na kasing pinagpasahan ng pananampalataya," he added.

(In other parts of the world, parishes are closing. Do you know why some parishes are closing? There is no longer any one to pass the faith to.)

The prelate named three actions that San Roque also implemented.

"Una, sa salita ng Diyos. Salita ng Diyos na pinahahayag, pinakikinggan, tinatanggap, sinasapuso, sinasabuhay. ang ikalawa po, ang mga sakramento lalo na ang eukaristiya, ang misa. Patuloy na pinadadaloy ng Panginoon ang kanyang biyaya sa bawat yugto ng ating buhay," Tagle said.

(First, in the word of God. The word of God that is proclaimed, listened to, accepted, taken to heart, and lived. Second, the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and the Mass. The Lord continues to pour out his grace in every stage of our lives.)

The third one he said, "Paglilingkod ng may pag-ibig (Serving with love)."

Cardinal Tagle is staying until Sunday before going to his next mission in Macau. — BAP, GMA News