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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Rebecca Ratcliffe South-east Asia correspondent

Who is Luis Antonio Tagle? The Philippine cardinal and ‘karaoke priest’ in the running for pope

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, a possible contender for the next pope, at a press conference at the Vatican on Tuesday, 23 Oct, 2018.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, a possible contender for the next pope, at a press conference at the Vatican on Tuesday, 23 Oct, 2018. Photograph: Alessandra Tarantino/AP

Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle laughed when asked in 2015 if he had ever considered that he might one day be pope. “I make a public confession here. I cannot even manage my life. How can I imagine a worldwide community?”

Despite his self-deprecating response, the Filipino cardinal is among those tipped as a potential successor to Pope Francis. If appointed, he would be the first Asian pope in modern times.

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