Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle Photo by Kristine Sabillo/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle was elected late Thursday (Manila time) as the new president of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of over 130 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations in over 200 countries and territories.
According to the confederation in its official website, Tagle is the first Asian to head Caritas Internationalis.
Speaking on the phone, Cardinal Tagle was quoted as saying to delegates attending the confederation’s 20th general assembly in Rome on Thursday: “Buona sera a tutti (Good evening everyone)!
Tagle said in his acceptation statement:
“Thank you for your trust. I’m limited in my capacities but with all of you, with the love that Jesus has poured into our hearts and in the name of all of the poor people in the world, I accept this election.
“Let us together strengthen the Church of the poor so our witness can help guide us to a world of understanding justice, true freedom and peace.”
Tagle is taking over the post from Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras, who has served two terms.–Rick Alberto