Former Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, who arrived in Manila from Rome on Thursday, has tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines news website.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, in a statement, said Malacañang was praying for Tagle’s fast recovery.
“We extend our prayers of (sic) speedy recovery and good health to Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle following the unfortunate news that he had recently contracted COVID-19 and entreat the public to pray for the good Cardinal as well.”
“May his recovery be immediate so that he can continue to fulfill his good works, and be an inspiration to the Catholic faithful to continue the fight against COVID-19 virus and be on our way to heal and recover as one nation,” Andanar added.
The Holy See Press Office, in a report published by the Vatican News, confirmed the announcement on Friday evening.
The report added that Tagle was asymptomatic and currently under quarantine.
It said he underwent a COVID-19 swab test in Rome on September 7, which turned out to be negative.
Tagle is the first Roman curia dicastery head to test positive for COVID-19.
Tagle, currently the Prefect of the Congregation for the New Evangelization of Peoples in the Vatican, was appointed by Pope Francis to the post in December 2019.
In a related development, bishops and diocesan administrators in the country were asked to pray for the 63-year-old Tagle.
In Circular 20-61, Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, acting president of CBCP, urged the Catholic faithful to include the cardinal in their Mass intentions until he was free of the virus.
“May I ask you to please have him included in all your daily Mass intentions until he recovers fully from COVID-19 so that he can resume his important ministry for the universal Church,” David said in the circular released on Saturday.
At the same time, David added five bishops had been infected with COVID-19.
“Among them, we have lost Bishop Manuel Sobreviñas (Bishop Emeritus of Imus) and Archbishop Oscar Cruz (Archbishop Emeritus of Lingayen Dagupan). Bishop Broderick Pabillo (Administrator of Manila) and Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez (Bishop Emeritus of Kalookan) have fully recovered. And now we have Cardinal Chito. Let us all please support him with our prayers,” he said.
Tagle tested negative in Rome last September 7 before his trip to
Manila two days after. “In all likelihood, he may have picked up COVID-19 right at the airport or in the airplane. He probably could not avoid being greeted by people, especially overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who recognized him at the airport or inside the plane,” David said.
Meanwhile, the social action arm of the CBCP asked the faithful to offer 10 Hail Mary prayers for the immediate recovery of Tagle.
“Please let the good Cardinal know that we are storming heavens with our prayers. We ask all Filipinos to offer 10 Hail Mary’s for Cardinal’s healing and remember him in your daily prayers,” Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, national chairperson of NASSA /Caritas Philippines said in an interview over church-run Radio Veritas.
Bagaforo also reminded the people to always follow health and safety protocols.
“This is a call for everyone that we take seriously the necessary precautions against COVID-19. Wear face masks and face shields, observe physical distancing, and sanitize our hands always. Let us help each other by observing this health protocol,” he added.