CBCP to Pinoys: Don’t push Tagle as next pope

As the Catholic Church mourns the passing of Pope Francis, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has urged the faithful to refrain from publicly promoting Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle as a potential successor, underscoring the need to uphold the sanctity and independence of the papal election process.

- By EL SANTOS

In a recent interview with church-run Radio Veritas, CBCP Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs Executive Secretary Rev. Fr. Jerome Secillano cautioned against calls circulating online and within Church circles pushing for the Filipino cardinal to be elected as the next pontiff.

“We leave it to the cardinal electors to decide who will succeed Pope Francis. 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,” he said.