From the margins to Sistine: What PH cardinals bring to conclave, post-Francis church | ABS-CBN
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From the margins to Sistine: What PH cardinals bring to conclave, post-Francis church
From the margins to Sistine: What PH cardinals bring to conclave, post-Francis church
Christian Deiparine,
ABS-CBN News
Published May 03, 2025 04:28 PM PHT
Lithuanian cardinal Rolandas Makrickas (Top C) officiates during a celebration of the Second Vespers at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, which hosts the tomb of late Pope Francis, on the first day of its opening to the public after the Pope's funeral, in Rome on April 27, 2025. Alberto Pizzoli, AFP
Lithuanian cardinal Rolandas Makrickas (Top C) officiates during a celebration of the Second Vespers at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, which hosts the tomb of late Pope Francis, on the first day of its opening to the public after the Pope's funeral, in Rome on April 27, 2025. Alberto Pizzoli, AFPMANILA — When Filipino cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel to help elect the next pope, they will bring with them lessons from what Pope Francis had envisioned: a church of the peripheries.
MANILA — When Filipino cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel to help elect the next pope, they will bring with them lessons from what Pope Francis had envisioned: a church of the peripheries.
The conclave takes on a more profound meaning for the Catholic stronghold in Asia with three Filipinos joining the secretive process. Like the 131 others, they could find themselves emerging from the Loggia of the Blessings at St. Peter’s when that white smoke appears.
The conclave takes on a more profound meaning for the Catholic stronghold in Asia with three Filipinos joining the secretive process. Like the 131 others, they could find themselves emerging from the Loggia of the Blessings at St. Peter’s when that white smoke appears.
A Filipino first helped select a pope in 1963 when Cardinal Rufino Santos participated in the conclave that elected Cardinal Giovanni Montini as Paul VI.
A Filipino first helped select a pope in 1963 when Cardinal Rufino Santos participated in the conclave that elected Cardinal Giovanni Montini as Paul VI.
Sixty-two years later, there’s Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Roman Curia, Cardinal Jose Advincula of the See of Manila, and Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan.
Sixty-two years later, there’s Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Roman Curia, Cardinal Jose Advincula of the See of Manila, and Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan.
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The three are part of the 23 cardinal-electors from Asia — a number that has more than doubled since the last conclave — under Francis’s move to diversify the Sacred College.
The three are part of the 23 cardinal-electors from Asia — a number that has more than doubled since the last conclave — under Francis’s move to diversify the Sacred College.
“The attention of [Pope] Francis to the peripheries, you see that even in his choice of cardinals,” said Leo-Martin Ocampo, a theology professor at University of Santo Tomas. “He wanted them represented in the universal church.”
“The attention of [Pope] Francis to the peripheries, you see that even in his choice of cardinals,” said Leo-Martin Ocampo, a theology professor at University of Santo Tomas. “He wanted them represented in the universal church.”
The late pope, an Argentinian, sought a church that went to the “peripheries,” one that shifted attention away from centers of power and influence to the marginalized sectors of the world.
The late pope, an Argentinian, sought a church that went to the “peripheries,” one that shifted attention away from centers of power and influence to the marginalized sectors of the world.
This vision, Ocampo said, took form in many other ways as reaching out to the LGBT community, the divorced and remarried, and giving the lay and women greater responsibilities within the Vatican bureaucracy.
This vision, Ocampo said, took form in many other ways as reaching out to the LGBT community, the divorced and remarried, and giving the lay and women greater responsibilities within the Vatican bureaucracy.
Tagle, Advincula, and David were thrust into bigger roles after starting in dioceses far from such regarded Catholic centers as Manila and Cebu.
Tagle, Advincula, and David were thrust into bigger roles after starting in dioceses far from such regarded Catholic centers as Manila and Cebu.
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In Imus, the Vatican expert John Allen Jr. once wrote of Tagle riding a bicycle to celebrate Mass at a small community; in Capiz in Western Visayas, Advincula put up “mission” stations to bring the church closer to parishioners; in Kalookan, David consoled victims of the “drug war” of the Rodrigo Duterte administration.
In Imus, the Vatican expert John Allen Jr. once wrote of Tagle riding a bicycle to celebrate Mass at a small community; in Capiz in Western Visayas, Advincula put up “mission” stations to bring the church closer to parishioners; in Kalookan, David consoled victims of the “drug war” of the Rodrigo Duterte administration.
“A church that has a ‘preferential option for the poor’ is not something that they preached, read or studied,” said Ocampo of the three. “It is something that they have lived.”
“A church that has a ‘preferential option for the poor’ is not something that they preached, read or studied,” said Ocampo of the three. “It is something that they have lived.”
The lay member of the Dominican order said such experiences of the Filipino cardinal-electors will shape the way they vote for the next pope.
The lay member of the Dominican order said such experiences of the Filipino cardinal-electors will shape the way they vote for the next pope.
“They're representing the ‘Global South’ or the developing countries, the poor in a very real way,” Ocampo said. “He (Francis) created a College of Cardinals that really is able to represent the church in that part which has been, in a sense, left out.”
“They're representing the ‘Global South’ or the developing countries, the poor in a very real way,” Ocampo said. “He (Francis) created a College of Cardinals that really is able to represent the church in that part which has been, in a sense, left out.”
Communicator, risk-taker, good manager
The next pope will face a myriad of issues concerning the faith and the church’s position in the modern world, from sexual abuse, gender ideology, to reforms from within.
The next pope will face a myriad of issues concerning the faith and the church’s position in the modern world, from sexual abuse, gender ideology, to reforms from within.
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Ocampo credited Tagle, seen by watchers as a strong papal contender, for his appeal to the young and for being a skilled communicator.
Ocampo credited Tagle, seen by watchers as a strong papal contender, for his appeal to the young and for being a skilled communicator.
“Crowds listen to him (Tagle), and we need someone like that for a pope,” he said. “If you're the face [and] mouth of the church, you might as well be a nice face and a convincing mouth.”
“Crowds listen to him (Tagle), and we need someone like that for a pope,” he said. “If you're the face [and] mouth of the church, you might as well be a nice face and a convincing mouth.”
But he also acknowledged management issues that Tagle was involved with, notably the late pope’s decision in 2022 to sack the leadership of Caritas Internationalis, the church’s charity arm, in which Tagle was nominally president and was found not to have been part of its day-to-day operations.
But he also acknowledged management issues that Tagle was involved with, notably the late pope’s decision in 2022 to sack the leadership of Caritas Internationalis, the church’s charity arm, in which Tagle was nominally president and was found not to have been part of its day-to-day operations.
He took note, meanwhile, of David as a “courageous risk-taker” most especially during the “drug war,” and of Advincula as a silent yet “excellent” manager, who took prudent and decisive action on issues in the archdiocese.
He took note, meanwhile, of David as a “courageous risk-taker” most especially during the “drug war,” and of Advincula as a silent yet “excellent” manager, who took prudent and decisive action on issues in the archdiocese.
Still, Ocampo cautioned Catholics against “betting” on cardinals to become pope.
Still, Ocampo cautioned Catholics against “betting” on cardinals to become pope.
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“If we’re going to speculate, it’s very natural,” he said. “But if people are debating, it’s like reducing the conclave to human standards.”
“If we’re going to speculate, it’s very natural,” he said. “But if people are debating, it’s like reducing the conclave to human standards.”
“Ang gusto natin ay manalo ang gusto ng Diyos,” Ocampo added.
“Ang gusto natin ay manalo ang gusto ng Diyos,” Ocampo added.
(What we want is for God's choice to win)
(What we want is for God's choice to win)
‘Smugglers of faith’
Regardless of whether the next pope is from the Philippines or not, Ocampo expects Filipinos to continue being “smugglers of faith,” as Pope Francis said of the country in 2021.
Regardless of whether the next pope is from the Philippines or not, Ocampo expects Filipinos to continue being “smugglers of faith,” as Pope Francis said of the country in 2021.
“It's a beautiful season to get a new pope,” he said, referring to Easter. “The risen Lord, in the midst of all these challenges that the Church is facing, assures us, I am always with you.”
“It's a beautiful season to get a new pope,” he said, referring to Easter. “The risen Lord, in the midst of all these challenges that the Church is facing, assures us, I am always with you.”
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The conclave opens on May 7, where cardinal-electors will enter the Sistine Chapel while invoking the church’s saints and swearing before Michelangelo’s fresco “The Last Judgment.”
The conclave opens on May 7, where cardinal-electors will enter the Sistine Chapel while invoking the church’s saints and swearing before Michelangelo’s fresco “The Last Judgment.”
In selecting the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, they will be away from the eyes of the world and under the gaze only of the divine.
In selecting the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, they will be away from the eyes of the world and under the gaze only of the divine.
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