Three Filipino cardinals to join papal conclave

Father Antonio Labiao Jr., Rector and Parish Priest of the Cathedral Shrine and Parish of the Good Shepherd, confirmed that three Filipino cardinals will participate in the upcoming papal conclave to elect the next pope following the death of Pope Francis.

“Three Filipino cardinals ang magiging aktibo sa pagpili, pwede silang mapili, at sila ang pumipili sa bagong Santo Papa (Three Filipino Cardinals will be active in the selection process, they can be chosen and will vote for the new Holy Father),” Labiao said in a radio interview.

The Filipino cardinal-electors are Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Cardinal Jose Advincula, and Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David. All three were appointed to the Sacred College of Cardinals by Pope Francis.

Tagle currently serves as the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization and is presently in Rome, according to Labiao. Advincula is the Archbishop of Manila, while David is the Bishop of Kalookan.

The next pope will be chosen by the College of Cardinals — the highest-ranking officials of the Catholic Church, all appointed by the pope. These cardinals will gather in Rome in the coming days to begin the conclave, a centuries-old tradition governed by secrecy and solemnity.

Globally, there are more than 250 cardinals from over 90 countries. However, only around 135 of them, those under the age of 80, are eligible to vote.

“Ang active Cardinals this time ay mga 135. So, ang two-thirds noon ang dapat maabot nila bago ma-proclaim ang Santo Papa (The active cardinals this time are around 135. So, two-thirds of that must be reached before a new pope can be proclaimed),” Labiao explained.

The conclave begins with a Mass, followed by closed-door deliberations and voting through secret ballots. Two votes are taken each day — one in the morning and another in the afternoon — until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority.

“Usually, tinatanggap ‘yan (election as new pope) for the sake of the Church and for the sake of our faith (Usually, the newly elected pope accepts the responsibility for the sake of the Church and for the sake of our faith),” Labiao added.

Pope Francis died on 21 April at the age of 88, prompting an outpouring of grief across the Christian world. Revered as a dynamic reformer, his 12-year papacy inspired deep devotion among many Catholics, even as it stirred opposition from more traditional sectors of the Church.