Cardinal Tagle appointed to Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano

Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, formally took possession of his Titular Diocese, Albano, in a solemn ceremony in Albano , Italy on Sunday morning (Saturday evening in Italy).

“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, of whom we know well the extraordinary intellectual gifts, sensibility, competence, wisdom, fidelity, and zealous industriousness, in carrying out the delicate office of Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization,” Pope Leo XIV said in the Papal Bull translated from Latin.

In a post by the Pontificio Collegio Filippino on Facebook, this development marks a significant step in Tagle’s role as a Cardinal Bishop in the College of Cardinals.

The suburbicarian diocese of Albano is one of the seven historic sees immediately surrounding Rome. The highest-ranking cardinals are traditionally assigned a title to one of these dioceses. 

While the Cardinal Bishop holds the title, the diocese maintains its own administrative head.

The ceremony was attended by the local clergy and faithful of Albano, led by the resident Diocesan Bishop, Most Reverend Vincenzo Viva. Also in attendance was a sizable contingent of Rome’s Filipino community. 

“Two other Cardinals, three bishops and a hundred priests concelebrated. A simple dinner capped the event, with Cardinal Tagle joining the Collegio Filippino choir in rendering some songs,” the post said. 

The Collegio Filippino is a key institution for Filipino priests and seminarians studying in Rome

According to the Collegio Filipino, the assignment of the Albano title to Cardinal Tagle also follows “a significant moment in the life of the Church” as the see had been briefly assigned to Cardinal Robert Prevost, who was scheduled to formally take possession on May 10. However, Cardinal Prevost was elected as Pope Leo XIV on May 8.

Due to the election, Albano remained vacant until it was formally assigned to Cardinal Tagle on May 24. Cardinal Tagle now holds this prominent title in the College of Cardinals, succeeding the current Pontiff in the historic role of Cardinal Bishop of Albano.

Tagle was earlier elevated to the rank of Cardinal Bishop by Pope Francis in 2020. At that time, Pope Francis had increased the number of Cardinal Bishops, and as there were not enough suburbicarian dioceses to assign, Tagle was permitted to retain his titular parish of San Felice da Cantalice a Centocelle while holding the elevated rank. —RF, GMA Integrated News