Filipino cardinals said Pope Leo XIV will continue the legacy of Pope Francis, and that there would be “no turning back” from the late Pope’s focus programmes for the poor. “The programmes may evolve, and they may take different expressions. But there’s no turning back from that,” said Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, in a post-conclave press conference on 9 May.
Cardinal Tagle said Leo, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, was himself “exposed to situations of poverty, climate change, indigenous peoples, and refugees” when he was a missionary and later a bishop in Peru. “I cannot imagine how, as Pope, he would lose that compassion. It might even deepen further,” said the 67-year-old Tagle.
The Bishop of Kalookan Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, 66, said a majority of the cardinals “would like to see a continuity of the spirit of the papacy of Pope Francis without being a clone, without being a photocopy”. David said he saw in Leo the characteristics of Francis, whom he described as “a pope of mercy and compassion” who sought to build a listening, welcoming Church. “I’m full of hope in my heart that this is going to be a really good papacy,” said David, who sat beside Tagle in the same press conference.
While the Filipino cardinals showed optimism about Leo, they also voiced disappointment about the disinformation that spread during the conclave. One rumour that circulated in Italian reportage suggested Tagle was a frequent gambler in Macau and was part of a billionaire network.
“I haven’t even been to Macau,” Tagle said, laughing before turning serious. “Of course, as a person, I am hurt when there are such comments,” he said. “That’s how I learned: don’t be afraid that God will be your judge. Because in the end, only he is the judge whom you can depend on.”
The cardinal said he follows the Bible instruction to pray for those who persecute them, and not to repay evil with evil. When asked if he plans to complain to Italian authorities, Tagle said he had made complaints in the past, but nothing happened.
Spanish bishops speak out after leaks of their meeting with Leo XIV
The executive committee of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, (CEE, by its Spanish acronym) meeting in Madrid this week, issued an official statement regarding the leaks
