| The Most Reverend Luis Antonio G. Tagle Divinitatis Doctor, Sacrae Theologia Doctor |
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|---|---|
| Archbishop of Manila | |
Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle |
|
| Province | Manila |
| Diocese | Metropolitan See of Manila |
| See | Manila |
| Elected | October 13, 2011 |
| Enthroned | 12 December 2011 (0 years, 97 days) |
| Predecessor | Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales |
| Successor | Incumbent |
| Other posts | Bishop of Imus |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | February 27, 1982 |
| Consecration | December 12, 2001 |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle |
| Born | June 21, 1957 Manila, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| Residence | Manila, Philippines |
| Occupation | Archbishop , Primate of Philippines |
| Profession | Sacerdotal Catholic Priest |
| Alma mater | Ateneo de Manila University |
Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle (born June 21, 1957 in Manila) is a Filipino Roman Catholic archbishop[1] of the Archdiocese of Manila[2] and de facto Primate of the Philippines.[3] Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, Tagle succeeded the Archbishop Emeritus, Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales. Tagle is also an Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at the Ateneo de Manila University.[4]
Tagle is widely known for his conservative yet charismatic views, highlighting many social issues in the Philippines with emphasis on helping the poor and the needy, while maintaining opposition against abortion,[5] contraception,[6] and the Reproductive Health Bill.[7] Tagle holds a very strong religious and political influence in the country, with an estimated 2.8 million professed Roman Catholics in the Manila archdiocese.[8]
Tagle was installed on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Manila Cathedral and is currently the head of the Metropolitan See of Manila along with its head church, the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception as both archbishop and archpriest.
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Tagle was born in Manila to devoutly pious Roman Catholic parents, Manuel Tagle and Milagros Gokim. Tagle is the firstborn child among his siblings and at the age of three, Tagle had already performed well in the recitation of the Holy Rosary. After attending elementary and secondary school at Saint Andrew's School in Parañaque, he gained a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy at San Jose Seminary in Manila in 1977. Expected by his parents to enter medical school to become a physician, he was influenced by priestly friends to enter the Ateneo de Manila University which gave him an automatic entrance to Saint Joseph seminary.
Tagle earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pre-Divinity from Ateneo de Manila University. Afterwards, he then earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theology degree at the Loyola School of Theology.[9] Tagle then earned a Doctorate of Theology at the Catholic University of America from 1987 to 1991 with Summa cum Laude on the development of episcopal collegiality at the Second Vatican Council.[10] In addition to this, Tagle also attended doctrinal courses at the Institute of Pope Paul VI University.
Tagle was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood on February 27, 1982. After ordination, he held the following positions: parochial vicar of St. Augustine Parish (1982–1983), spiritual director of the diocesan seminary of Imus (1982–1983), rector of the same (1983–1985). After having gone to Rome to study (1985–1992), he was appointed episcopal vicar for religious (1993–1995), then pastor of the Cathedral of Imus (1998–2001).[11]
He was appointed a member of the International Theological Commission 1990's and met with then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. He is a member of the Bologna-based editorial board of the "History of Vatican II" project led by Alberto Melloni, a position he has held since 1996. Tagle is also currently the Chairman for the Episcopal Commission on the Doctrine of Faith.[12]
Tagle's coat of arms has two sides. The left side represents the coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Manila while the right side represents the personal coat of arms of Tagle and his personal affiliations.
The tower of Castille signifies his belief in God while the three windows professes his devotion to the Triune God. The crescent moon is a classic symbol of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is also the Principal Patroness of the Philippines.
On the lower left side, a sea lion holder a cruciform staff, a classic symbol of the Philippines also present in many government seals.
On the other side, the top section portrays Jesus Christ as the ultimate shepherd and fisherman with a gospel book while the middle section portrays a classic symbol of Our Lady of the Pillar (his previous diocese), and lastly a Carpenter's rule, which signifies Saint Joseph the worker (the seminary which he attended).
Tagle's motto is taken from the Gospel of John 21:7, Dominus Est! which translates to “It is the Lord!”.
| Styles of Luis Antonio G. Tagle |
|
|---|---|
| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Archbishop |
Tagle was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Imus on October 22, 2001, and consecrated on December 12, 2001.[13]
At the first gathering of bishops under Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, the Synod of Bishops, he made one of the seven speeches from the floor, about the inadequacy of the number of priests in the Philippines,[14][15] and also commented in a news conference that "The first Sunday after my ordination as a priest, I said nine Masses, and that is regular in the Philippines."[16] Within the Episcopal Conference of the Philippines, he is the President of the Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Tagle attended the 2008 International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec, Canada, for delivering a well-received catechesis on the importance of the Eucharist.
In October 13, 2011, the Holy See appointed Bishop Tagle as the 32nd Archbishop of Manila, becoming the de facto Primate of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines, thus succeeding Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales.
Tagle now governs a Metropolitan See of Manila with a population of 3.2 million people, approximately 2.8 million of whom are Roman Catholics, at a time when secularization is making headway in the Philippines and presenting many challenges to the faith including changes in legislation regarding family life, birth control, and marriage.[18] As per the terms of canon law Tagle must take possession of the see of Manila within two months of his appointment. He was installed as Archbishop on 12 December 2011, to coincide with the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe and his 10th year anniversary of his episcopal ordination.
Members of the Congregation for Bishops who considered Tagle's candidacy found out about Tagle's affiliation with the school of Bologna only after the publication of the appointment.[19] In September 2011, prior to his installation as Archbishop of Manila, Tagle made a religious pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Archbishop Tagle is also the television host of The Word Exposed, a Catholic televised program produced by the Jesuit Communications Foundation, known as "JesComm". He is also a co-host of an early morning Catholic program that is also partly produced by JesComm, Kape't Pandasal (Coffee and Prayer), from a playful term that is synonymous to "Coffee and Bread" (Kape't Pandesal), and focuses on Gospel readings and Catechism. The televised show is currently furnished and broadcasted by the ABS-CBN network communications.[20]
| Episcopal lineage | |
| Consecrated by: | Jaime Sin |
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Manuel C. Sobreviñas |
Bishop of Imus October 22, 2001 –October 13, 2011 |
Succeeded by Sede Vacante |
| Preceded by Gaudencio Rosales |
Archbishop of Manila October 13, 2011–present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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