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MANILA, Philippines — A week after the white smoke signaled the election of the new pope, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle reunited with Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, in a private audience at the Vatican.
The two prelates, close collaborators in the Roman Curia, had sat next to each other in the Sistine Chapel during the 2025 conclave, which concluded swiftly with Prevost’s election on the second day.
Tagle, who heads the Vatican's Dicastery for Evangelization, offered a personal glimpse into the character of the new pontiff during an interview with Vatican News.
He shared that he first met the pope in Manila and later in Rome, when the latter was still prior general of the Order of St. Augustine, and that they began working together in the Roman Curia in 2023.
The former Manila archbishop described the pope as having a "deep and patient capacity for listening," adding that he engages in "careful study and reflection before making a decision."
"The pope expresses his feelings and preferences without imposing them. He is intellectually and culturally well-prepared, but without showing off. In his relationships, Pope Leo brings a calm warmth, shaped by prayer and missionary experience," Tagle said.
An Augustinian after a Jesuit
Asked about the significance of having a pontiff from another major religious order following Pope Francis, Tagle drew parallels between St. Augustine and St. Ignatius of Loyola.
"St. Augustine and St. Ignatius had many things in common. They both had worldly careers and experienced a restlessness that led to adventurous pursuits," Tagle said.
The cardinal explained that the Augustinian and Ignatian "schools" both arise from a shared foundation of “God’s graciousness and mercy, which frees the heart to love, serve and go on mission.”
"While keeping his Augustinian spirit, Pope Leo will also echo the Ignatian spirit of Pope Francis. I believe the whole Church - and indeed the whole of humanity - will benefit from their gifts. After all, St. Augustine and St. Ignatius (and all the saints) are treasures of the whole Church," Tagle added.
A pope of many worlds
Born in the United States and formed in Peru, Pope Leo XIV’s multicultural background has led some to describe him as the “Pope of two worlds.”
Tagle, one of Asia’s most prominent Church leaders, said such a background will enrich the pope’s universal ministry.
"Without denying the primacy of grace in the ministry of Pope Leo, I believe that his human, cultural religious and missionary background will give a unique face to his ministry. But this is true of all popes," Tagle said.
The cardinal also noted that Asians love the pope for his role, regardless of his background or origin.
"The people of Asia love the pope as pope, whichever country he comes from. He is loved not only by Catholics, but also by other Christians and followers of non-Christian religions," Tagle said.
Remembering Pope Francis
As the Church prepares to mark one month since Pope Francis’ passing, Tagle described the late pontiff’s most enduring legacy as “his gift of humanity.”
"My heart is gladdened by the numerous testimonies given by the Catholic faithful, non-Catholic Christian communities and members of non-Christian religions about the teaching and legacy of Pope Francis," Tagle said.
The cardinal also encouraged people to share their stories of Pope Francis, saying these testimonies will help deepen understanding of the Petrine ministry in the modern world.
"Our world needs to rediscover and to nurture the beauty and worth of being authentically human," Tagle said.
"Pope Francis, through his simple and even frail humanity, has contributed immensely to this search, not for his own glory, but for the greater glory of God, who in Jesus became fully human," he added.
