Vatican City: Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has been elected the new dean of the College of Cardinals, becoming the first Asian cardinal to hold the position. Pope Leo XIV approved his election on October 9, following the decision by the cardinals of the Order of Bishops on October 8.
Tagle, 69, succeeds Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 92, who has stepped down from the position and assumed the title of Dean Emeritus. The transition marks a significant development in the leadership of the College of Cardinals and brings an Asian church leader into one of its most senior positions.
The dean plays an important role in coordinating the work of the College of Cardinals, particularly during periods of transition in the leadership of the Catholic Church. The position also carries specific responsibilities when a pope dies or resigns and the Church prepares to elect a successor.
Born in Manila on June 21, 1957, Tagle was ordained a priest on February 27, 1982. He became Bishop of Imus in 2001 and was appointed Archbishop of Manila in 2011. Pope Benedict XVI elevated him to the rank of cardinal on November 24, 2012.
Tagle later moved into senior Vatican leadership. He currently serves as Pro-Prefect of the Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches within the Dicastery for Evangelization, which oversees important aspects of the Catholic Church's missionary work around the world.
His election is notable because of his experience in the Philippines and his work in the Vatican. The Philippines has one of the largest Catholic populations in Asia, and Tagle previously led the Archdiocese of Manila before taking up his current responsibilities.
The College of Cardinals assists the pope in the governance of the Church. When the papacy becomes vacant, eligible cardinals gather to elect a new pope. Under Church rules, cardinals who have reached the age of 80 before the papacy becomes vacant cannot vote in the conclave.
The dean coordinates aspects of the college's work and has specific responsibilities during a papal vacancy. These include presiding over meetings of cardinals and helping prepare for the conclave, the gathering in which eligible cardinals elect a new pope. The election itself follows established Church procedures, and the dean does not independently select the next pontiff.
The dean serves a five year term, which can be renewed once under rules introduced by Pope Francis in 2019. The position is therefore distinct from the papacy and does not give its holder authority over the entire Catholic Church.
Cardinal Re had served as dean since January 2020. During his tenure, he played a prominent role in the Church's transition following the death of Pope Francis in April 2025. He presided over the funeral Mass for Francis on April 26 and the Mass preceding the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV in May 2025.
Tagle's election has also renewed attention on his name as a possible candidate in a future papal election. He was among the cardinals discussed as a potential contender before the 2025 conclave. However, becoming dean does not make him the designated successor to Pope Leo XIV or determine who will be elected pope in the future.
As the new dean, Tagle will take on responsibilities at the centre of the College of Cardinals, particularly during discussions and procedures related to the papacy. His election also marks a historic moment for Asian representation in the senior leadership of the Catholic Church.