Who will replace Tagle?

While the Vatican has yet to announce the successor of outgoing Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, at least four bishops are reportedly being considered as the cardinal’s replacement.

A Catholic Church official, who requested anonymity, said that Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa is one of the candidates qualified to succeed Tagle, along with Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan.

Caloocan Bishop Pablo David – who is very vocal on his stance against the government’s war on drugs – and Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara are also being considered as Tagle’s replacement.

But the source clarified that they could not yet tell who among Garcera, Villegas, David and Vergara will be appointed to lead the Archdiocese of Manila, as the decision will come from Pope Francis alone.

Retired Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani previously said that Tagle’s post in the Archdiocese of Manila will remain vacant until Pope Francis appoints someone he deems qualified to lead one of the country’s minor basilicas.

Aside from the bishops, Bacani said that Pope Francis can also appoint an ordinary priest and those who are outside Metro Manila.

“With the present pope, you must not be surprised with the one he will appoint. That’s surely a surprise. He can appoint even an ordinary priest to Manila,” Bacani said.

The Vatican is set to appoint Tagle’s replacement after Pope Francis appointed him as the Prefect of the Congregation for Evangelization of People, a position also known as the “Red Pope.”

Tagle is reportedly set to leave Manila for the Vatican next week.

Before leaving the Philippines, Tagle’s mother Milagros said that they are feeling grateful for the cardinal’s appointment, but sad at the same time, as he will be leaving them.

If it were up to her, Milagros said that she wants her son to stay in the Philippines.

“It’s a great honor. What he has done for the Church is recognized now. And for that, I am very thankful. But I am also very sad that he will be away from us, meaning to say, he will be staying in… Rome or wherever,” Milagros said.

“However, Cardinal Chito is always very close to us. So, he said ‘I am very grateful for all the benefits from Rome, but how about my parents? They’re getting older. So I’d rather stay with them,’” she added.

Tagle said in his previous homilies that he is still confused about what is happening around him as he has surrendered everything to God.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/02/02/1989695/who-will-replace-tagle