Considered by some to be Papabile, Tagle is the Pro-Prefect for the Section of Evangelisation of the Dicastery for Evangelisation and is responsible for appointing New Zealand's bishops.

The Holy See said Tagle's involvement with the upcoming October Synod would make his trip impossible at this time.

"It has recently been confirmed that His Eminence ... has been named as a participant in the upcoming synod this October," the Holy See explained.

"Given the schedule of the synod itself, as well as the planning leading up to it, His Eminence will unfortunately not be available to make a trip to New Zealand this fall."

Dunedin priest Fr Michael Hishon who chairs the committee that organised Tagle's visit is obviously disappointed but quick to say that he understands Tagle's focus must be on the synod for the moment.

"Clearly the Synod in Rome has some very serious issues confronting it," he told CathNews.

"We understand Tagle is one of the key members of the Synod, and because we want the best outcome for the Church, we strongly support his attendance at the Rome Synod."

He says that while they would have been "delighted to have committed him to spending some brief but very valuable time amidst our clergy," Hishon says the disappointment "is the Holy Spirit talking.

"The Holy Spirit often works in strange ways; God's ways are not necessarily our ways," he says.

"Anyone that organises these types of events always has a contingency, and we have ours."

Source

• CathNews
• Supplied

He is the Pro-Prefect for the Section of Evangelisation of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, and is responsible for the appointment of New Zealand's bishops.

However the purpose of Tagle's visit it to speak at the National Clergy Assembly, in October. He will address the topic "Journeying together as priests in these changing times".

Dunedin priest Fr Michael Hishon, chair of the national clergy assembly organising committee says he invited Tagle in 2017.

The cardinal almost agreed, but could not make it. NZ Catholic reports Tagle had also been invited in 2013, but could not attend then either.

"We're blessed to get him and, once he's landed and spoken, I will be relieved. But until he's landed and spoken, anything can happen," Hishon said.

The first session of the Synod on Synodality in Rome is happening from October 4- 29.

Source

• NZ Catholic

At their November meeting the bishops re-emphasised the need for two bishops to the Pope's diplomatic representative to New Zealand, His Excellency, Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa (pictured).

New Zealand bishops are appointed through the Dicastery for Evangelisation headed by Cardinal Luis Tagle.

Rugambwa is the intermediary in New Zealand who recommends suitable and worthy candidates to Tagle.

Once a suitable and worthy candidate is found, Tagle recommends his name to Pope Francis to make the appointment.

Rugambwa, who has recently returned to New Zealand from Rome, was a distinguished guest at the opening session of the bishops' November meeting. He shared the Pope's greetings and blessings with them and the people under their pastoral care.

They in turn, spoke plainly of their concern about the bishopless state of both the Palmerston North and Hamilton dioceses.

After the unscheduled resignation of Charles Drennan, the Palmerston North diocese has been without a bishop for more than three years.

The Hamilton diocese has been without a bishop for nearly a year. On December 17, 2021 then Hamilton bishop, Steve Lowe, was appointed Bishop of Auckland.

At his installation as Bishop of Auckland in March, Lowe thanked Rugambwa for his presence.

"Can I please ask you to work hard to find a great bishop for Hamilton? I think Palmerston North and Christchurch are looking for one too," he remarked to laughter in the congregation.

In the meantime, Auxilary Bishop Michael Gielen was translated from Auckland and installed as bishop of Christchurch.

In early November, Lowe, Secretary of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, commented that it takes a long time to appoint a bishop.

Lowe was responding to a piece in the international publication The Pillar, where Luke Coppen suggested the Vatican has forgotten about New Zealand's need to find two bishops.

Pointing the finger for the delay at Rugambwa, Coppen suggested Rugambwa might have a different model of Church than is commonly accepted in New Zealand.

Sources

• Supplied
• CathNews
• CathNews

Lowe is responding to a piece by Luke Coppen in The Pillar, suggesting the Vatican has forgotten about New Zealand's need to find two bishops.

Coppen points out that the Diocese of Palmerston North has been leaderless for more than three years, and on December 17 it will be a year since Lowe moved from Hamilton to become Bishop of Auckland.

"The process of appointing a bishop is not fast, and this can lead to frustration and speculation on what is happening.

"Behind the scenes, however, the process is happening," Lowe said to a recent media enquiry.

He said the process is in the hands of the Apostolic Nuncio. The Apostolic Nuncio is Pope Francis' diplomatic representative in New Zealand.

Coppen says the current Nuncio is Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, who has served in this role since 2019.

He suggests Rugambwa might have a different model of Church than is commonly accepted in New Zealand.

Outlining the process to appoint a bishop, Lowe says the Apostolic Nuncio starts a process of consultations with a range of lay people and clergy to look at the pastoral needs of the diocese and suggest names for potential candidates.

The Nuncio then passes this information on to the department in the Vatican responsible for New Zealand, the Dicastery for Evangelisation, headed by Filipino Cardinal Luis Tagle.

The Dicastery for Evangelisation then confirms a short list of possible candidates called a Terna, at which point the Nuncio starts a second consultation process.

The consultation is with a wide variety of lay people and clergy who are also asked to suggest others who might be consulted.

Once the consultation is complete, the Nuncio sends his report back to the Dicastery for Evangelisation who then makes the recommendation to Pope Francis.

When the Pope nominates a new bishop, the Nuncio informs the nominated priest that the Pope has appointed him as the bishop of a diocese and asks whether he is willing to accept.

At no point along the process are prospective candidates asked if they agree to their names going forward.

Coppen notes appointing bishops in New Zealand has not previously been too much of a problem, but his Excellency Archbishop Rugambwa did not respond to Coppen's request for comment.

In response to the same media request, Cardinal John Dew said: "The process to appoint new bishops for the two dioceses is underway and under the supervision of the Apostolic Nuncio, which is the standard way bishops are appointed."

On 29 March 2019, Pope Francis named Rugambwa apostolic nuncio to New Zealand and apostolic delegate to the countries of the Pacific Ocean. On 25 May, the responsibilities of Apostolic Nuncio to Fiji and to Palau were assigned to him, then on 30 November, he was given additional responsibility as Apostolic Nuncio to the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and Tonga.

On 17 April the following year, he was named Apostolic Nuncio to Samoa, then on 2 February Rugambwa was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the Cook Islands, a post that had been vacant since 2018, and on 30 March to Micronesia.

Other than the New Zealand dioceses of Palmerston North and Hamilton, currently, only one other diocese from the vast array of dioceses Rugambwa is responsible for is vacant, and this vacancy follows the August 7 death of Koru Tito bishop of Tarawa and Nauru.

Coppen suggested that an option the Vatican might consider is uniting the Hamilton and Palmerston North dioceses under one bishop without merging them. This process, known as linking dioceses in persona episcopi, has been used in recent years in Canada, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Wales.

Several CathNews sources say bishops in New Zealand are busy, and there is no suggestion that merging dioceses is being considered.

Source

• Supplied
• CathNews
• Wikipedia

On Thursday, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle said, "We are really concerned, not only for Europe but for all the world, regarding evangelization."

Speaking with reporters during the presentation of World Mission Sunday, the prelate admitted that he's not an "expert" when it comes to the Church in Europe. So, he chose instead to speak more about his home continent.

"Asia is a world of mission, and now they say that Europe is also becoming a mission territory," he said.

"Our experience in Asia is that, though the Holy Spirit is always the major agent in evangelization, we also need living witnesses. Those who through their witness of life, quality of relationship, compassion for the poor, give a living announcement of the Gospel."

Cardinal Tagle's comments have been confirmed in the latest Vatican census that shows Catholicism is growing in Africa, Asia and the America's, but is declining in Europe.

The number of Catholics in the world grew by more than 15 million from 2018 to 2019, according to a census by the Vatican news agency Fides published on 21 Oct.

"The increase applies to all continents, except Europe," which saw the number of Catholic faithful decrease by almost 300,000, the survey found.

The Fides data accounts for all Catholics until 31 Dec, 2019. Given the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent church closures and deaths, experts at a Vatican news conference on Thursday admitted the numbers may have changed substantially during 2020.

The theme chosen for the 2021 celebration of the World Mission Sunday is taken from the Acts of the Apostles: "We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard."

Speaking at the news conference, Cardinal Tagle encouraged the faithful to become "missionaries fueled by compassion and hope."

Mentioning his experience living in Asia, where Catholics represent a minority of the population, the cardinal warned that "if we keep the faith to ourselves, we will become weak. If we keep the faith to a small group, it might become an elite group."

Instead, he continued, Christians and missionaries are called "to reach all the nations, the geographical and existential spaces."

Sources

• Crux
• Religion News
• Agenzia Fides

The cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who is the prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples - offered his ideas last week.

He had been asked what people who feel more anxious, stressed and depressed due to the Covid-19 crisis could do to help themselves.

Accepting the current reality of the pandemic is a key way to cope, he said during a broadcast of "The Jesuit Hour," a Jesuit Communications online talk show.

When life is not exactly as we want it to be it can help if people turn themselves towards ‘acceptance', he explained.

"While we are here, let's accept the situation and limitations, the fears and doubts of the situation today.

"If we accept the inconveniences in faith, we could get out of this as a better humanity."

Tagle said not accepting reality and denying the pandemic's existence doesn't solve the emotional problems many people are facing as the coronavirus pandemic continues to surge across the world.

"As long as we don't accept it, we can't face it. As long as we don't accept that this is really the situation now, we will not be able to see where the hand of God is," he added.

"And in that acceptance, light will come.

"But if we refuse to accept and we resist even the hardships of this situation, we will just return to the old normal and be even a worse humanity."

Tagle has already confronted the COVID-19 virus in person, as he returned a positive test for Covid-19 when he visited Manila in September last year.

Although asymptomatic, he recalled suffering anxiety of pandemic stress during his two-week quarantine.

Even though all the medical assistance is provided for symptomatic patients, those asymptomatic also need "emotional and spiritual first aid," Tagle said.

Source

• CBCP News
• Image: Vatican News
• Originally the article said Cardinal Tagle was a Jesuit. We have made the correction and apologise to Cardinal Tagle and the Jesuits.

They are doing this by sowing division and exploiting the anger of those who feel excluded, he says.

The Filipino prelate (pictured), who is the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, aired his concerns - and some opportunities to improve matters - at the 2021 Trócaire St Patrick's College Maynooth annual Lenten lecture.

Speaking via Zoom from Rome after delivering his lecture, he turned to the topic of populist leaders 'hijacking' religion, saying:

"There is a growing sense in the world today of divisiveness, and unfortunately religion is being used to further division; sometimes even within the same religious affiliation you have divisions."

Tagle described the recent rise of populist leaders as "the return of the powerful big-boss-type of people" some of whom "hijack religion".

They know where the pockets of disgruntled people are and they present themselves as messiahs, he said. They use religion as a "convenient way" of getting followers.

"We need to study carefully why these leaders get followers; why do they become popular?"

Times of confusion such as during a pandemic could, in particular, make the exclusion of people such as the poor and migrants be more susceptible to these influences, Tagle warned.

Source

• The Tablet
• Image: La Croix Internationl

It can no longer be seen as "optional" by bishops. They won't be left to work out how on their own though.

The new guidebook, released by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, offers practical ways for bishops to promote unity between Christians.

Bishops must pray "personally and publicly for other Christian leaders," promote ecumenical work online and appoint ecumenical officers and commissions.

At the same time, the guide warns against getting involved in heated arguments or "misrepresenting the positions of other Christians."

Instead Catholics should focus on "weighing truths rather than simply enumerating them," it explains.

The goal of Christian unity may not be straightforward, however, as it raises a number of big questions.

One relates to Catholic-Anglican unity. Unless Pope Leo XIII's decree that Anglican orders are "absolutely null and utterly void".

"I think we must have a better interpretation," Cardinal Kurt Koch, the president of the pontifical council says.

"I think it's a very important question because the validity of the ordination is the biggest obstacle for sharing the same altar ..."

Another problem concerning Anglican-Catholic unification relates to the ordination of women as priests and bishops - a decision that is unacceptable for the Catholic Church.

The guidelines indicate there is no change in the offing regarding sharing communion with Christians from other denominations. The current rules - that allow this to happen in "certain circumstances" - are restated.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of People, says a "lack of unity among followers of Jesus" undermines evangelisation.

"The non-Christians are scandalised, really scandalised, when we all claim to be followers of Christ, and they see how we are fighting one another," he said. "The lack of unity and even this almost outright anger toward one another - it weakens evangelisation."

The 26-page guidebook has Pope Francis's approval.

Throughout his pontificate has adopted an approach of "walking together, praying together and working together" with other Christians. He has consistently focused on what unites rather than divides denominations.

Source

• The Tablet
• Image: Wikipedia

Last Friday the cardinal discussed his experience during the coronavirus quarantine and his recovery.

Speaking at an online conference for Catholic educators, he admitted struggling with "fear and anxiety" during the isolation.

"But getting out of the quarantine I realized that for you to really survive, you need a deep sense of interconnectedness," Tagle said.

The "enemy" is still the feeling that he is a "threat" and "danger to others."

"Then you feel like maybe it is better to just isolate yourself. But then the isolation also bothers you."

"But it is the sense that you're interconnected… you are connected to God, to the water, to the air — that will energize you," he said.

The news of the Filipino cardinal's recovery is "a great joy for the whole Church," the rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome says.

Fr Gregory Gaston added: "God wants him to continue serving in the Vatican's office for the Missions, to bring God's Good News of love, joy, peace, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation — all of which the world needs in a special way these days."

Tagle, 63, tested positive for COVID-19 last month after flying from Rome to Manila but was asymptomatic. He recovered 13 days after testing positive for the virus.

As well as prefect for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Tagle is also a member of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

He also spoke for nearly an hour to the Catholic educators about the event's theme, "Missio: Dialogue of Faith and Life and Culture Beyond Creed, Beyond Borders, Beyond COVID."

"That's why I could say that for survival, even the mentality of those who go through this crisis, this connectedness or what we call dialogue is important," he said.

"Your existence depends on a rediscovery of the reality that you are not alone, you are always connected."

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• Interaksyon
• Image: YouTube

After wearing a protective face mask in the car on the way to the 500-strong audience, Francis removed it, touching the mask's front as he emerged from the vehicle.

Maskless, he shook hands with prelates attending the audience.

Redeeming himself somewhat, he then turned to the packed-in crowd, some of whom had lowered their masks to greet him, and, sporting a smile, urged them not to shake hands but to return to their seats to "avoid contagion".

He went on to tell the audience the coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic would be defeated by "God's love".

Seen momentarily in public the week before with a mask, a Vatican official later explained Francis finds it difficult to wear a mask that restricts his breathing.

When he was 21, the young man who would become pope suffered from acute pleurisy, resulting in surgeons removing part of his right lung.

The 83-year old pontiff has shown little fear for his health since the pandemic outbreak.

Throughout the pandemic, he has continued to receive visitors within the Apostolic Palace - albeit fewer groups than before.

According to a statement from a Vatican official on Monday, the pope is being "constantly monitored" for signs of the coronavirus.

The Vatican comment followed news that Francis has met with a close ally, Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who later tested positive for the virus.

Tagle, 63, had a private audience with Francis on 29 August and went on to test positive for Covid-19 on his return to Manila on 10 September.

The pope's mask was also off on Thursday last week when he shook hands with a group of French actors committed to defending the environment.

The group exempted from wearing face masks included the actress Juliette Binoche.

Sources

• NDTV.com
• Irish Post
• Al Arabiya

The Vatican said on Friday that Tagle, 63, a Filipino who heads the Vatican's missionary arm, had tested positive when he arrived in Manila on Thursday.

Tagle, who met Pope Francis in a private audience on Aug. 29, tested negative on Sept. 7.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Vatican health officials were checking people who had come into contact with Tagle in recent days. He did not say if this included the 83-year-old pope, who is believed to be tested regularly. Read more