VATICAN CITY — Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has been elected dean of the College of Cardinals, becoming the first Asian to lead the body responsible for electing the pope and gaining greater prominence in the Catholic Church’s leadership.
Pope Leo XIV approved Tagle’s election on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, following a vote by the cardinal bishops, the most senior order within the College of Cardinals. Tagle, 69, succeeds Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 92, who is retiring after serving as dean since 2020.
The dean is regarded as the first among equals within the College of Cardinals. Although the position does not give its holder authority over other cardinals, it carries significant responsibilities, particularly during the transition between popes.
The dean presides over meetings of the College of Cardinals and plays a central role when a pope dies or resigns. The officeholder helps lead preparations for the conclave, the secret gathering in the Sistine Chapel where eligible cardinals elect a new pope. The dean also asks the elected candidate whether he accepts the papacy and what name he wishes to take. If the dean is under 80 and eligible to participate, he presides over the conclave.
Tagle’s appointment has also renewed attention on his prospects of becoming pope. Before the May 2025 conclave that elected Leo XIV, he was widely regarded as one of the possible successors to Pope Francis, who died in April 2025. His reputation as a prominent Asian church leader and his experience in the Vatican placed him among the names discussed ahead of the election.
The dean’s position does not guarantee a future election as pope. However, the appointment gives Tagle a prominent role in the Church’s leadership and in the process that will eventually select Leo’s successor.
Tagle previously served as archbishop of Manila and has held senior responsibilities at the Vatican since 2020. He currently leads the Dicastery for Evangelization, the Vatican department responsible for the Church’s missionary work. He was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 and later became one of the prominent figures in the Church under Pope Francis.
His election marks a notable development for the Catholic Church, whose senior leadership has historically been dominated by European cardinals. As dean, Tagle will help guide the College of Cardinals through its work and prepare for the eventual election of the next pope, whenever that time comes.
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