Archbishop Jose Advincula, Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, and Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus Luis Antonio Tagle reflected on their personal interactions and experiences with Pope Leo XIV before his papacy.
Read: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost elected new pope
The three cardinals spoke about it at a press conference on Friday, May 9, 2025, held at the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome.
Talking about being seated beside Cardinal Prevost during the conclave, Cardinal Tagle explained: "Yung mga latest pictures na magkatabi kami, yun ay... kasi lalo na kapag formal meetings, lalo na itong preparation for the conclave, may seating arrangement yan.
"Hindi kami ang namimili ng upuan kasi merong Cardinal Bishops, Cardinal Priests, Cardinal Deacons. Nagkataong kami dalawa ay Cardinal Bishops.
"Bago siya dumating, bago siya na-appoint na Cardinal Bishop, ako yung pinaka-junior sa Cardinal Bishops. E, dahil na-appoint siya, siya na ngayon yung junior.
"Kaya magkatabi kami. Kaya kung nakikita niyo kami magkatabi at nagbubulungan, malamang ang pinag-uusapan namin, e, 'Nagkape ka na ba? Parang inaantok ka?'
"Hindi laging serious yun."
CARDINAL TAGLE'S MOMENTS WITH POPE XIV
Cardinal Tagle recounted how it was Cardinal Prevost's first conclave, during which Prevost sought his guidance on the proceedings.
Elaborating: "Nakakatuwa nga doon sa conclave, marami siyang tanong sa akin. 'Paano ba ito? Ikaw nakaranas ka na ng conclave, paano ba ito?'"
Cardinal Tagle jokingly remarked that now, as Pope Leo XIV, Prevost has the opportunity to implement any changes he wishes for future conclaves.
"May humorous side siya. May sense of humor. Pag napatawa siya, ang lakas ng boses. So very human, very, very human, very humble, but very discerning."
Cardinal Tagle also recalled that he was close by when the new Pope was about to be elected.
He noted how Prevost grew aware of the immense responsibilities he would take on as the new Pope.
"Katabi ko si Cardinal Prevost. Kaya noong palang palapit, naririnig ko yung hininga niya parang lumalalim.
"Sabi ko, 'Ito, okay lang na huminga ng malalim.' At noong inaabot na niya yung number, talagang gano'n din...
"The same joy na ano [naramdaman]. We just have to pray for him."
Witnessing his nervousness, Cardinal Tagle offered Cardinal Prevost a candy—a gesture he had similarly made in a previous conclave.
Reflecting on his gesture for Cardinal Prevost just before his ascent to the papacy, Tagle shared, "Nung humihinga-hinga na siya, sabi ko, Gusto mo ng candy?' 'Sige, bigyan mo ako ng isa.'
"Yan ang unang act of charity ko sa Santo Papa. So may mga ganyang moments."
Sharing another amusing moment with Cardinal Prevost, Cardinal Tagle related that the latter gave him his first autograph after assuming the papacy.
Pointing at a prayer booklet, Cardinal happily recalled, "Bawat isa sa amin may ganyan. As in may tinanong siya sa akin, before niya naaabot yung number ng ganyan [votes].
"Sumagot ako, sinulat ko, tapos pinasa sa kanya, yun ang sagot ko sa tanong niya.
"Ang ginawa niya, pinunit niya ang page kung saan ako sumulat. Yung prayer book, yung aking guide kulang na ng isang page.
"Ginawa niya, binigay niya sa aking yung kanyang [prayer booklet], 'O Ayan, palit tayo.'
"Tapos nung naging ano [Santo Papa] na siya, sabi ko, 'O, you owe me something, Pirmahan mo ito.'
"Sabi niya, 'Ito ang aking first signature as Pope Leo.' Tinago ko, nasa akin."
CARDINAL TAGLE AND CARDINAL ADVINCULA ON WORKING WITH POPE LEO XIV
Long before the conclave, Cardinal Tagle said he had interacted with Cardinal Leo numerous times.
They first met during Cardinal Leo's visit in the Philippines.
Although Cardinal Tagle did not specify the year of their initial encounter, Pope Leo XIV visited the Philippines in 2004 and 2010.
Cardinal Tagle recalled, "Si Pope Leo, nung siya ang Superior General ng mga Augustinians, ilang beses din niya dumalaw sa Pilipinas sa mga Augustinian communities.
"Actually, doon ko siya unang nakilala sa pagbisita niya sa Pilipinas as an Augustinian Superior. And he has fond memories of the Philippines.
"Sana mabigyan natin yun din ang karampatang pagmamahal at panalangin."
Read: Pope Leo XIV's past visits to the Philippines resurface online
Then they collaborated for their work in the dicasteries in Rome for the past year or so.
Cardinal Tagle revealed: "We've been working together sa dicasteries. I should say he is a very level-headed person.
"Hindi yan yung tao na parang impulse o reaction lang ang nagbibigay ng directions sa kanya. Makikinig yan at kung kailangan, aaralin niya ang isang bagay.
"Hindi niya agad-agad sasabihin na may ganitong desisyon, aaralin niya. Pero pagbalik yan, kita mo malinaw.
"At nakakatulong siya sa discernment pag-ano... ng buong grupo.
"Yun ang nakakatuwa sa kanya. At hindi masyadong gumagawa ng ingay. Ganoon, kalmado, determinado."
CARDINAL ADVINCULA ON MEETING CARDINAL PREVOST
Meanwhile, Cardinal Advincula also had the opportunity to work with then Cardinal Prevost.
Elaborating, "Boss ko noon si Pope Leo XIV, sa Dicastery for Bishops. Kasi siya ang prefect ng dicastery.
"Ang main na trabaho namin is to evaluate and to present to the Pope [then Pope Francis] ang mga possible candidates for episcopacy.
"Pero every two weeks, may meeting po kami. Every two weeks, kung sino ang gagawing bishops sa isang area na under sa dicastery for bishops.
"That means, itong mga area na hindi under sa Propagation of the Faith, under siya kay Cardinal Chito [Tagle]."
Cardinal Advincula noted that most of his interactions with then Cardinal Prevost were conducted online.
Cardinal Advincula explained: "Hindi ko po talaga nakakasama palagi si Pope Leo XIV.
"In fact, nung pagdating na pagdating ko sa Roma, and the first time I saw him after that, I asked him, 'Ano na po ang gagawin ko sa mga ginawa ko na assignment? Ifo-forward ko na po?'
"Sabi niya, suspended muna ang aming mga trabaho ngayon."
In addition to their work at the Dicastery for Bishops, Cardinal Advincula collaborated with then Cardinal Prevost during several synods or dialogues among the clergy.
He echoed Cardinal Tagle’s observations by highlighting Cardinal Prevost's humility and clarity, especially regarding matters of canon law.
"Nakasama ko rin po siya sa synod nun, synodality, so many times.
"Magkatabi kami. And yung synodality, mga three weeks yun or one month. For two weeks, magka-grupo kami.
"And gaya po ng sinabi ni Cardinal Tagle, he's really... very humble, happy yung countenance, kalmadong-kalmado.
"And talagang very clear sa kanyang exposition about certain matters, especially on canon law, kasi he is a canon lawyer."
PAPAL VISIT TO THE PHILIPPINES
Cardinal David, for his part, revealed that he boldly invited the Pope to visit the Philippines once again, shortly after his proclamation.
He shared, "When he was proclaimed na, ihaharap na siya sa amin at nakasuot puti na siya, pumila kami para batiin siya isa-isa, that was very touching.
"Tapos nung ako na paglapit ko sa kanya, ang sabi ko, 'Holy Father,' and by the way, he speaks American English.
"So sabi ko, 'Holy Father, I wish you could visit us in the Philippines.'"
The invitation was especially meaningful for Cardinal David, because the Pope had previously visited the Philippines multiple times to engage with Augustinian communities.
Notably, Cardinal David's hometown, Pampanga, is renowned for its strong Augustinian presence.
"Ang sabi ko, 'You know, I come from Pampanga, and the province of Pampanga was evangelized by Augustinians, your brothers.'
"The first missionaries in the Philippines were Augustinians, of course, along with the Jesuits and Dominicans and the other congregations.
"Pero yung buong area namin sa Central Luzon, Augustinian yun. Sabi ko, 'Come [to the Philippines].'
"Kasi naging superior general siya ng mga Augustinians. And take note, from a Jesuit Pope, now to an Augustinian Pope.
"So nakangiti lang siya, sabi niya, 'If God allows that.' Sabi ko, lakas naman ang loob ko nang imbitahin ko na isa to Papa. State visitor siya pag pumunta sa atin, di ba?"
Just like Cardinal David, Cardinal Tagle also asked Pope Leo XIV to visit the Philippines.
Citing how Pope Francis eagerly went to the Philippines in the past, he's optimistic that Pope Leo XIV will visit the country as Pope, too.
If such a visit occurs, Cardinal Tagle expresses hope that Filipinos will warmly welcome the Pope, just as they did for Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis during their visits to the country.
Cardinal Tagle said, "Kapag nagapag-uusapan yung pagbisita ng mga Papa sa iba't ibang bansa, parang ang laging standard ay ang Pilipinas.
"Parang hindi natin mapaliwanag yung bumubukal na pag-ibig ng mga Pilipino sa Santo Papa.
"Nakita naman natin ang nangyari kay Pope John Paul II. At noong World Youth Day na nag-set ng pinakamalaking gathering, 5 million people sa closing mass.
"For a long time, yun ang Guinness record. Pero nalampasan noong pagbisita ni Pope Francis, naging 6 million.
"Kaya sa Guinness Book of World Records, yung first at yung second ay parehong Pilipinas.
"Pero hindi lang ito question ng kung paano mag-gather o mag-hugot ng mga tao.
"Kasi [hindi sila] natulog ng matagal, nabilad sa araw. Wala namang pabuya na pinamimigay. Pero kitang-kita mo dahil sa pag-ibig at sa pananampalataya.
"Sana yun ang ating ipakita rin kay Pope Leo."
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