There are no official candidates yet to replace Pope Benedict XVI but the name of Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle is among the potential candidates that have been most frequently mentioned recently.
Citing health reasons, Pope Benedict XVI shocked the world when he announced that he will be resigning by the end of the month. Now that a conclave is looming, Church leaders will select a new pope who will guide the Church best.
Tagle was described as a charismatic religious leader. He is also close to Pope Benedict after working with him at the International Theological Commission. However he only became a cardinal in 2012 and conclaves are wary of young candidates. But church observers say that the fact that Benedict cited health reasons for resigning could favor younger candidates like Tagle.
Aside from Tagle, the other “papabili” (potential popes) that were mentioned include Joao Braz de Aviz (Brazil, 65), Timothy Dolan, (USA, 62), Marc Ouellet (Canada, 68), Gianfranco Ravasi (Italy, 70), Leonardo Sandri (Argentina, 69), Odilo Pedro Scherer (Brazil, 63), Christoph Schoenborn (Austria, 67), Angelo Scola (Italy, 71), and Peter Turkson (Ghana, 64).
Tagle was born in Manila in 1955. He was ordained priest in 1982 and finished his Doctorate in Sacred Theology at the Catholic University of America. He is currently the titular-archpriest of the Church of Saint Felix of Cantalice at Centocelle and de facto Primate of the Philippines. Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, Tagle succeeded the Archbishop Emeritus, Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales. Tagle is also the Professor of Dogmatic Synthesis at the Graduate School of Theology of San Carlos Seminary and an Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at the Loyola School of Theology of the Ateneo de Manila University.
Tagle among frontrunners to replace Pope Benedict XVI
