Tagle Makes History as First Asian Dean of Cardinals

VATICAN CITY — Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle has become the first Asian and Filipino to serve as Dean of the College of Cardinals, following approval of his election by Pope Leo XIV.

The Vatican announced the development on Friday, October 9, 2026, confirming that the Pope approved Tagle’s election on Thursday, October 8, after a vote by cardinals of the Order of Bishops.

Tagle, 69, succeeds Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 92, whose resignation was accepted.

Tagle is Pro-Prefect of the Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches within the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization. He previously served as Archbishop of Manila in the Philippines.

As dean, he will coordinate the College of Cardinals, convene cardinals for a papal conclave and preside over its proceedings if he is under 80 and eligible to vote.

He will also ask the newly elected pope whether he accepts the election and what name he wishes to take, and ordain him as bishop if he has not already received episcopal ordination.

The dean, however, has no governing authority over other cardinals. The position is described as primus inter pares, meaning “first among equals”, reflecting its coordinating and representative responsibilities.

Cardinal Re, who became dean in 2020 and was reappointed in January 2025, will retain the title of Dean Emeritus and that of the Suburbicarian Church of Sabina-Poggio Mirteto.

Tagle will assume the title of the Suburbicarian Church of Ostia while retaining his existing title of Albano.

Pope Francis reformed the office in 2019, introducing a five-year term renewable once, replacing the previous lifetime tenure. Re presided over the funeral rites of Pope Francis in April 2025 and the Mass preceding the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV in May 2025.

At 92, he was ineligible to vote because cardinals aged 80 and above cannot participate as papal electors.

Tagle’s election marks a historic milestone for the Catholic Church in Asia and the Philippines, placing him in a key coordinating role during future transitions between pontificates.