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Tagle's sweet act of charity to Pope Leo XIV

Manila Bulletin

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May 11, 2025

Before the world even knew the name of the new pope, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle had already performed what he called in a jest as his "first act of charity," giving a piece of candy to Cardinal Robert Prevost during the conclave.

Tagle's sweet act of charity to Pope Leo XIV

Prevost eventually chose the name Pope Leo XIV after he was elected as the new pontiff on May 8.

Tagle shared the lighthearted moment during a post-conclave press conference organized by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Friday evening, May 9 (Philippine time).

"I always carry candy with me. I was seated next to Cardinal Prevost.

When I noticed he was taking deep breaths, I asked him, 'Do you want some candy?' He said, 'Sure, give me one." So I told him, "There you go.

That's my first act of charity to the new Holy Father," he said.

Tagle's tradition of carrying candy began during the conclave in 2013 and has continued ever since.

That year, he was playfully teased by a Colombian cardinal for unwrapping sweets in the Sistine Chapel. But that same cardinal ended up asking for one, too.

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