His Em. Luis Antonio Gokim Cardinal Tagle (Cardinal Chito), appointed by Pope Francis, is the new prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples since 8 December 2019. He replaces Cardinal Fernando Filoni in this important task .
Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle was born on 21 June 1957 in Manila (Philippines) he comes from a modest family, "his parents gave him the most beautiful gift for his future life: they took care of giving their children an excellent education and to pass on moral values to them", this is how he presents himself «so that he and his brother could have a solid basis to prepare them for their life in society».
He studied philosophy at St. Joseph Seminary in Manila and graduated at the University of Manila. He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Imus on February 27, 1982. Initially he served in parishes and seminaries, in one of which he was rector.
He was sent to the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. (1985-1991), where he completed his studies with a doctorate in theology defending his thesis on the notion of episcopal collegiality according to the Second Vatican Council and on the influence of Pope Paul VI on it.
In 1997 he was appointed member of the International Theological Commission.
Returning to the Philippines, he worked in various parishes, again as rector of the diocesan seminary, and for some years as a professor of theology in four seminaries.
Pope John Paul II, on October 22, 2001, appointed him bishop of Imus, a diocese of 2.6 million Catholics. On 13 October 2011 he was appointed archbishop of Manila.
Cardinal Tagle is a theologian and sought-after lecturer; he collaborated with Giuseppe Alberigo in the work The history of the Council, in which he exposes his vision of the Catholic Church in the third millennium.
He was appointed Cardinal on November 24, 2012, at the age of 55, receiving the title of San Felice da Cantalice in Centocelle.
In the Roman Curia he is a member of the Pontifical Commission for the family (he is president of the committee) and of the Dicastery for the pastoral care of migrants and itinerant people, of the Congregations for Catholic Education, for the Institutes of consecrated life and the Societies of apostolic life and also of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.
He participated in various Synods (1998, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018). In the Synod on The Word of God in the life and mission of the Church (2008), he actively participated with a statement that distinguishes him: «A Church that does not listen to the poor cannot celebrate the Word of God».
Cardinal Tagle has his own television program "The Word Exposed" (program of the Jesuits of the Philippines which engages in the production of audiovisual material for evangelization and education, running since 2008), here, every week, he comments on the readings of the mass for the following Sunday. He has his own profile on Facebook.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is President of the Catholic Biblical Federation, confirmed by Pope Francis on March 8, 2015, and is President of Caritas Internationalis.