Cardinal Tagle bids farewell to hometown; Manila will have a new archbishop

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle is shown sitting a few meters from an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. PHOTO FROM CBCP NEWS

Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle called himself an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) as he bade farewell to his hometown Imus in the province of Cavite, according to a report posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

At the same mass, Cardinal Tagle said, “From here, I will be an overseas Filipino worker (OFW),” he said.

“Please continue praying for me, especially for Pope Francis,” he added.

Imus Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista announced during a mass held at the Our Lady of Pilar church that a new archbishop will be appointed by Pope Francis to lead the Manila archdiocese.

“Manila will have a new archbishop as our cardinal will take a bigger role in the Church,” Evangelista was quoted as saying.

Tagle is expected to start his work in Rome as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples by February this year.

The Cardinal delivered the homily, in which he underscored that mission without spirituality has no value.

“Mission is spirituality. We might be doing something but not a mission,” he said.

“We can’t also have spirituality without action,” he added.

Also present during the Mass were retired Bishop Pedro Arigo of Puerto Princesa and the parents of Cardinal Tagle.

Before leaving for Rome, Tagle is expected to attend several gatherings in Manila, including the bishops’ plenary assembly in Manila on Jan. 25 to 27 and the 7th Philippine Conference on New Evangelization at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City on Jan. 28 and 29, 2020. — BAP, GMA News