An emotional Cardinal Tagle receives blessing of Filipino faithful

By Vatican News

The Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, has often spoken of “the gift of tears”. He became visibly emotional during a Mass in Manila on Sunday when the Vatican Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, invited the congregation to pray for him and his new mission as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Archbishop Caccia suggested the Filipino faithful be ready to “give the Cardinal to the bigger Church”, imitating the “yes” of Mary in Nazareth: “Not just accepting something that we cannot change, but saying: if this is God’s will, I am happy to let you go. Like mothers and fathers when they see their children finding their way. They are happy to see them go, even if they suffer because they are leaving the house”.

Archbishop Caccia, who Pope Francis recently appointed as the Holy See’s new Permanent Observer to the United Nations, described Cardinal Tagle as “the best gift we have to give the Universal Church”. “We give with an open heart”, he said, “even if our heart is suffering. We give with joy”. He then invited the congregation to stand and bless the Cardinal and his new mission.

In his homily during the Mass, Cardinal Tagle spoke about submitting to God’s will, even if one has already planned a “story line” for one’s own life. He referenced Mary “who already had her plans” before the Angel Gabriel announced she would become the Mother of God. The Cardinal became visibly emotional as he quoted Mary’s response: “Be it done to me according to your word”.