VATICAN CITY – Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has been elected as the new Dean of the College of Cardinals, making him the first Asian to hold the position in the history of the Catholic Church.
The 69-year-old Tagle, currently Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, succeeds 92-year-old Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who stepped down after nearly seven years of service. The election was made by the Order of Cardinal-Bishops on Thursday, October 8, 2026, and announced the following day.
Cardinal Tagle will assume the title of the Suburbicarian Church of Ostia while retaining his current title of Albano. As Dean, he will lead the world’s cardinals as primus inter pares, first among equals—coordinating their activities without exercising hierarchical authority over them.
His primary duty will be to convene and preside over any future Conclave in the event of a vacant see, provided he remains under the age of 80 and is thus eligible to vote.
October has proven to be a month of milestones for Cardinal Tagle. He was appointed Bishop of Imus on October 22, 2001; Archbishop of Manila on October 13, 2011; and announced as Cardinal on October 24, 2012.
His election as Dean adds another historic chapter, coinciding with the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, patroness of his hometown Imus, Cavite.
Cardinal Re, meanwhile, assumes the title “Dean Emeritus” and retains the Suburbicarian Church of Sabina-Poggio Mirteto. He was reappointed by Pope Francis in January 2025 for a second term and presided over the funeral rites for Pope Francis in April 2025.
May we continue to pray for Cardinal Tagle as he faithfully serves the Universal Church.
