Nelson Morales

Cardinal Tagle's new titular church, explained

Article (news)

Erik Tenedero

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17481543945541748154393342.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="This photo taken and handout on May 18, 2025 by The Vatican Media shows Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle putting the Fisherman&#x27;s Ring on a finger of Pope Leo XIV during a Holy Mass for the beginning of his pontificate, in St. Peter&#x27;s Square in The Vatican. Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">This photo taken and handout on May 18, 2025 by The Vatican Media shows Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle putting the Fisherman&#x27;s Ring on a finger of Pope Leo XIV during a Holy Mass for the beginning of his pontificate, in St. Peter&#x27;s Square in The Vatican. Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED) </strong>— Fresh from the high media mileage of transitioning from one pope to another, social media remains ripe with ecclesial conversations wrapped in memes and trending TikTok posts.</p><p>So when news from the Vatican about a new title bestowed on the Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle came out, many on social media were more than happy to celebrate &quot;a new milestone&quot; for the prelate now popularly known online as &quot;Cardi T&quot; — a play on the cardinal&#x27;s name and popular American rapper Cardi B.</p><p>A Vatican communique on Saturday announced that Pope Leo XIV has assigned Tagle the suburbicarian church of Albano as his titular church.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/24/pope-leo-xiv-appoints-tagle-as-new-titular-bishop-of-albano-italy-1944">Pope Leo XIV appoints Cardinal Tagle as new titular bishop of Albano, Italy </a></div><div><strong>NO ROLE IN OVERSEEING DIOCESE</strong></div><p>While several bloggers and content creators have framed it as a &quot;new position&quot;, it is technically not.  </p><p>It is also not a promotion.</p><p>Tagle&#x27;s role as titular of Albano is mainly honorary and ceremonial.</p><p>Albano, one of the suburbicarian sees associated with cardinal bishops, has its own bishop.</p><p>The incumbent bishop of the Diocese of Albano is Bishop Vincenzo Viva. As a diocesan bishop, he has full jurisdiction over the ecclesial territory.</p><p>Tagle, on the other hand, has no role in overseeing the diocese.</p><p>Tagle&#x27;s main role in the Vatican is being a prefect, similar to a secretary or minister of a department in a secular government.</p><p>The Filipino cardinal, at present, is the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization in the section for New Evangelization and the new particular Churches.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/5/2/cardinal-tagle-celebrates-mass-with-filipino-faithful-at-his-titular-church-in-rome-1015">Cardinal Tagle celebrates Mass with Filipino faithful at his titular church in Rome<br/></a></div><p>Pope Benedict XVI created Tagle as a cardinal in 2012 while he was archbishop of Manila.</p><p>At the time of his accession to the College of Cardinals, Tagle was assigned the rank of cardinal priest and given the titular church of San Felice da Cantalice a Centocelle.</p><div><strong>RANKS AMONG CARDINALS <br/></strong></div><p>There are three ranks among cardinals: cardinal bishops, cardinal priests, and cardinal deacons.</p><p>Cardinal deacons are mostly officers of the Roman Curia, while cardinal priests are typically bishops and archbishops who work in various dioceses and archdioceses across the world.</p><p>Cardinal bishops, the highest among the ranks, are the most senior in Rome or are patriarchs of Eastern Catholic Churches.</p><p>All cardinals, except the patriarchs, are given titular churches in Rome to further highlight their special connection to the pontiff.</p><p>It is also a toss back to ancient times when cardinals were chosen from among Roman priests.</p><p>Cardinal bishops are traditionally assigned to one of the suburbicarian sees: Ostia, Velletri–Segni, Porto–Santa Rufina, Frascati, Palestrina, Albano, and Sabina–Poggio Mirteto.</p><p>The dean of the College of Cardinals is a special case. Aside from his assigned titular church, he is also automatically given the suburbicarian see of Ostia.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17481543287971748154326376.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Pope Francis and Archbishop Cardinal Antonio Tagle gesture as they converse with a family headed by a deaf-mute couple at the Mall of Asia Arena on January 16, 2015.  Josh Albelda, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner">Pope Francis and Archbishop Cardinal Antonio Tagle gesture as they converse with a family headed by a deaf-mute couple at the Mall of Asia Arena on January 16, 2015.  Josh Albelda, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">In 2020, Pope Francis raised Tagle to the rank of cardinal bishop but did not assign him to one of the suburbicarian churches.</p><p>Meanwhile, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the future Pope Leo XIV, was promoted by Francis to the rank of cardinal bishop weeks before he died.</p><p>Serving as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops at that time, he was assigned to the church of Albano.</p><p>As Prevost is now Pope Leo XIV, he has assigned his old titular church to Tagle.</p><div><strong>STATUS QUO BUT MOVEMENTS, APPOINTMENTS MAY FOLLOW</strong></div><p>For now, all positions in the Roman Curia remain the status quo, as ordered by Pope Leo XIV.</p><p>Technically, curial roles lapsed upon the death of Francis.</p><p>Hence, one of the first orders of Pope Leo XIV was to reconfirm all the heads and members of the institutions of the Roman Curia, including Tagle. </p><p>Traditionally, popes wait for a significant amount of time before replacing or moving appointments of their predecessor. </p><p>Soon, Pope Leo XIV is expected to make crucial appointments, including his successor as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops — a significant post given its role in appointing bishops all over the world and could help shape his papacy.</p><p>Meanwhile, some curial positions are held by cardinals who are already past or nearing the retirement age hence replacement is also in line. </p><p>Aside from being pro-prefect, Tagle is also a member of several departments and institutions, including dicasteries for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Legislative Texts, Inter-religious Dialogue, and the Oriental Churches. </p><p>He is also member of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See and the Council of the Section for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Secretariat of State. </p><p>Even without the new title, Tagle&#x27;s position as one of the highest-ranking officials in the Vatican was already secured, making him one of the key figures to watch in the new Leonine papacy. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xlGBDi_Vt3Y?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>While several bloggers and content creators have framed it as a "new position", it is technically not. It is also not a promotion.</p>

While several bloggers and content creators have framed it as a "new position", it is technically not. It is also not a promotion.