Tagle’s ‘heart for poor,’ experience in PH won him seat as int’l Caritas president

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle AP FILE PHOTO

The world has so much to learn from the Philippines.

This was how Radyo Veritas President Fr. Anton Pascual described the impact of Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle’s election as President of the Caritas Internationalis.
Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of over 130 Catholic charities around the world. Tagle is the first Asian to head Caritas Internationalis.

READ: Tagle elected first Asian president of Caritas Internationalis

“The world can learn so much from our experience of survival, resiliency, embedded in our culture and the steadfastness of our faith,” Pascual said, citing that the Philippines is a “disaster corridor of the world.”

He said Tagle would be an effective head of the Caritas Internationalis because he represents third world that experienced the brunt of calamities both man-made and natural.

He added that the vast experience of Tagle in Caritas Manila will contribute in the church’s clarion call for mercy and compassion especially for victims of disaster, human trafficking and violence globally.

“The heart of the cardinal is with the poor, he speaks their language, breathes their aspirations and can discern God’s will that will resonate for mercy and compassion,” he said.

READ: Bring love to poor, Tagle urges

According to him, the election of Tagle as the president of the Caritas Internationalis is a pride for the Filipinos.

“It is a great honor for Philippine Church that our good Cardinal Chito will lead Caritas Internationalis,” he said.

Church officials in the Philippines also extended their support for Tagle.

Manila Auxilliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo urged Filipinos to pray for Tagle so he would be able to fulfill his responsibilities as head of the humanitarian and justice arm of the Catholic Church.

“This means that other countries recognize the leadership of Filipinos,” he said in Filipino. IDL