Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula leads a requiem Mass for the late Pope Francis at the Manila Cathedral on April 22, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA -- The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines urged the Filipino faithful to refrain from openly advocating for Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle as the successor to Pope Francis. 

Pope Francis died on Monday at the age of 88. His passing came almost a month after leaving the Gemelli hospital in Rome, following five weeks battling double pneumonia.

“We leave it to the cardinal electors to decide who will succeed Pope Francis,” Rev. Fr. Jerome Secillano, CBCP Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs Executive Secretary, said in a report posted on the Archdiocese of Manila's website. 

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“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.”

Eligible cardinals will vote to elect a new pope in a conclave, though only cardinals under the age of 80 are allowed to vote. About 135 of the most senior Catholic leaders will take part.

Three of cardinal electors come from the Philippines: Cardinal Tagle, the former Archbishop of Manila; Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, CBCP President of the CBCP; and Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula. 

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A list of the supposed top candidates for the papacy -- which included Tagle -- has been making the rounds on social media. 

But Cardinal David downplayed the list, saying this was "arbitrary." 

Moreover, Secillano asserted that outside interference on the decision of the cardinal electors should not be tolerated. 

“The independence of the electors must be respected, and the least we can do is pray for Cardinal Tagle and the other cardinal electors,” he said.

Asked about the "papabili" or those being talked as front-runners to become the next Pope, Cardinal David said nobody dreams of becoming the next Pope because of the huge task this entails. 

He also explained that there are no "candidates" in a conclave. 

"Wala pong kandidato sa conclave. There's no such thing as alam ninyong election. Walang mamimigay ng ayuda, walang maglalagay ng tarpaulin, walang mangangampanya," he said. 

"Magdadasal ang mga cardinal, and it is in the spirit of prayer na kailangan itanong namin, hindi ang gusto naming iboto kun'di ang gusto ng Panginoon na mag-succeed kay Pope Francis," he added. -- with a report from Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

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