In light of growing public support, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called on the faithful to refrain from "openly advocating" Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as a possible successor to the papacy.
The call comes in the wake of Pope Francis’s passing on Monday at the age of 88, after spending more than a month in the hospital battling double pneumonia.
Rev. Fr. Jerome Secillano, Executive Secretary of the CBCP's Public Affairs Commission, made it clear that the task of choosing the next head of the Roman Catholic Church rests solely with the cardinal electors in the upcoming papal Conclave.
“We leave it to the cardinal electors to decide who will succeed Pope Francis. It’s not prudent for the public to promote Cardinal Tagle as the next Pope, as this could create the impression that the conclave might be swayed by external influences if Cardinal Tagle is elected as the next pontiff,” said Fr. Secillano, as quoted in a report on the Archdiocese of Manila website.
He then reiterated the need for the cardinal electors to carry out their sacred duty without external pressure, stating that their independence is vital to ensuring a fair and untainted Conclave.
Furthermore, he stated that the freedom of the electors must be respected, and that in this time of discernment, the faithful should focus on praying for Cardinal Tagle and all other electors participating in the process.
The Conclave is a solemn gathering of Catholic cardinals tasked with selecting a new Pope following the death or resignation of the previous pontiff. Only cardinals under the age of 80 at the time of the vacancy are eligible to vote.
About 135 cardinal electors are anticipated to join the upcoming Conclave. Among them are three Filipino cardinals: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who currently holds a key post in the Roman Curia; Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines; and Cardinal Jose Advincula, Archbishop of Manila.
