In a touching interview with Vatican News, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, shared his personal reflections on the election of Pope Leo XIV and the lasting missionary spirit of Pope Francis, nearly a month after his passing. Having sat beside Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost during the conclave, Cardinal Tagle recalled the spiritual depth of those sacred days inside the Sistine Chapel, where prayer, listening, and discernment guided the election of the new Pope.
Cardinal Tagle, a Filipino deeply rooted in missionary service, painted a warm and humble picture of Pope Leo XIV, whom he first met when the latter served as Prior General of the Order of St. Augustine. He spoke of the Pope’s gentle way of listening, his deep prayer life, and his missionary background, shaped not by position but by service and love. His way is one of calm, reflection, and deep humanity—traits much needed in today’s Church.
Cardinal Tagle reflected on the conclave not as a political event but a deeply liturgical one—filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit and the shared longing of the Church for guidance. He spoke of a holy silence that fell upon the room when Pope Leo received the required votes, saying it was a moment between Jesus and Peter—so sacred that even the Cardinals dared not disturb it.
Like St. Augustine and St. Ignatius, both of whom journeyed from worldly ambition to a life of holiness and mission, Pope Leo brings together their shared spirit of grace, mercy, and mission. Though shaped by his Augustinian heritage, Cardinal Tagle believes Pope Leo will also carry forward the Ignatian focus of Pope Francis—especially his deep humanity and commitment to the poor, the peripheries, and to peace among peoples of different faiths.
He emphasized that each Pope brings his unique face to the same mission—to strengthen the faith of all in Jesus Christ. Pope Leo, with his rich cultural background and humble missionary heart, is well-placed to carry the Gospel to every corner of the world.
As the Church remembers Pope Francis, Cardinal Tagle invited all to share personal stories about his humanity and compassion. He reminded us that the legacy of a Pope is not only in books or speeches but in the human hearts he touched. Pope Francis, through his simple and frail humanity, made Christ visible to many—and that, too, is mission.
This moment in the Church’s life is more than a transition; it is a call to mission. To serve with humility, to lead by listening, and to proclaim the love of God in word and deed. As Cardinal Tagle beautifully expressed, the conclave and the papacy are not about power, but about serving the people of God, with “only God before our eyes.”
Source: Vatican News
