Cardinal Tagle formally takes possession of titular diocese of Albano
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has formally taken over the titular diocese of Albano in Italy.
The suburbicarian diocese of Albano, according to the Pontificio Collegio Filippino, is one of the seven historic sees surrounding Rome, which are usually assigned to high-ranking cardinals.
The see was previously briefly assigned to Cardinal Robert Prevost, who would be later on elected as Pope Leo XIV. After the election, Albano remained vacant until Tagle's formal assignment on May 24.
"Since the title of the ancient and illustrious Suburbicarian See of Albano is vacant, and when the dearly beloved Roman Pontiff Francesco passed, we were elected through divine will to this Chair of St. Peter, it is our will to assign it to you with great joy, our Venerable Brother," Pope Leo XIV's papal bull issued in May read.
Filipinos in Rome, including Tagle's family and friends, attended the ceremony held at the Albano Cathedral on Oct. 11 (Oct. 12 Philippine time).
During the conclave, Tagle was considered a "papabile," or among the favorites to succeed the late Pope Francis.
In 2019, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Tagle as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples—a major Vatican office responsible for missionary work worldwide.
A year later, the pontiff elevated Tagle to Cardinal-Bishop, the highest ranking within the College of Cardinals. This is the first time a Filipino cardinal has held this rank. As a Cardinal-Bishop, Tagle oversees a church in a suburb of Rome while working in departments of the Roman Curia, the church's central administration.
He was further appointed to other positions, including as a member of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See and the Congregation for the Oriental Churches in 2021.
Francis also named him a member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in 2022.
