The three Filipino cardinals who participated in the conclave that led to the election of Pope Leo XIV as the 267th leader of the Catholic Church explained how the voting went through.

 Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Cardinal-Bishop of San Felice da Cantalice a Centocelle; Cardinal Jose Advincula, Archbishop of Manila; and Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said during a press conference at the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome that it was nothing like a typical “election.”

Tagle, who was seen as one of the front runners going into the conclave, said Filipinos who closely monitored the proceedings may have been surprised.

 “Siguro po yung mga ganoong reakyon ay normal lang,” explained the cardinal.  “Minsan nanggagaling sa mga tao sa kanilang karanasan na eleksyon. Merong kandidato, boboto ka para sa isa, boboto ka kontra sa isa. Eh hindi ho ganoon ang conclave.”

 “When it comes to the ministry of the Church ang criteria, yung approach hindi tulad ng nangyayari sa mundo. ‘Pag sinabing we rely on the Holy Spirit ang pangpili through prayer, disiplinado dapat aming lahat na hindi isipin o magpadala na 'kandidato ba ako?' 'Yung internal discipline ay kailangan kundi baka kainin ka rin. Walang kandidato dito parang ipopromote ang sarili mo, ang kababayan mo, kundi balik ka doon sa babanggitin o a pagboto mo, haharap ako sa Diyos na huhusga sa amin.”

But Tagle, who shunned the media before the conclave, thanked the people who believed that the Filipino cardinals have the capacity to serve as pope.

“Maraming salamat sa mga parang nagtiwala amin ewan ko kung anong nakita nyo sa amin na p’wede kaming posibleng maging Papa. Ako, ‘pag tinitignan ko ng sarili ko parang hindi ko maisip yun eh. Kung may nakakaisip ng ganoon maraming salamat,” he said.

 Robert Francis Prevost became the first pope from the US on Thursday and he picked the papal name Leo XIV after cardinals from around the world elected him leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

 The new pontiff succeeded Argentine reformer Pope Francis, was introduced in Latin with his chosen papal name.

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David said the selection became easier through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

“Hindi tao lang ang kumikilos, kundi Espiritu santo mismo ang Diyos mismo ng kumilikos. Parang gumaang ang aming trabaho sa pagpili ng magiging pinuno ng simbahan,” he said.

He also urged the faithful to pray for the new pope.

“Magpasalamat tayo Panginoon na nagbigay sa atin sa kanyang handog na Santo Papa in the person of Pope Leo XIV,” he said. “Kailangang kailangan ng ating Santo Papa ang ating dasal, ang pag-offer natin para sa kanyang Pastoral Ministry kung anuman sakripisyong magagawa natin.”

Manila Archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula said he hopes Filipinos learn their lesson from the conclave on how to select their political leaders this coming midterm elections on Monday.

 “Sana yung ipakita rin natin dito sa paraan ng pagboto ng isang pinuno ng Catholic Church ang kakaibang paraan ng pagpili ng mga pinuno. Alam naman natin we distinguish between religious leaders and political leaders,” he said. “Kaya ko kayo inaaddress ng ganito ay panahon ng panahon ng elekyon ng halalan sa ating bansa.”

 “Maituring nating sagradong pagkakataon ang paghalal ng pinuno. Parang mensahe ko din ito para sa mga tumatakbo... na magtulong tulong naman po tayo na magkaroon tayo ng bagong modelo ng pamumuno.”

Tagle also remembered seeing Prevost's reaction while the votes were being counted.

"According to the rule, 2/3 of the majority (ang kaliangang para mapili). Pwede naman sa upuan mo magbilang... katabi ko si Cardinal Prevost, kaya noong palapit na ng palapit (ang bilang), parang humihinga na siya ng malalim. Sabi ko sa kanya OK lang huminga ng malalim," he said.