Three Filipino cardinals led by Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle are expected to participate in the next conclave to select the successor of Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, who died on April 21, 2025.
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Caloocan City Archbishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, together with Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula will travel to Rome this week to pay their final respects at the pope’s funeral, which is set on Saturday, April 26.
The CBCP officials will join Cardinal Tagle, highest-ranked Filipino official within the Vatican Curia.
“This important journey underscores their commitment to honoring the legacy of the late Pope and participating in the solemn ceremonies planned at the Vatican,” the CBCP said in a statement.
“Their presence at this momentous occasion reflects not only their personal reverence but also the collective mourning of the Catholic community,” it added.
The three Filipino cardinals will participate in the upcoming papal conclave to elect the next pope following the death of Pope Francis. “Cardinals Tagle, David and Advincula will be active in the selection process, they can be chosen and will vote for the new Holy Father,” according to CBCP.
All three were appointed to the Sacred College of Cardinals by Pope Francis.
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.
Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church for more than a decade, passed away in Rome at the age of 88.
Funeral arrangements have been announced and are expected to draw world leaders, clergy, and faithful from around the globe.
“Let us please offer Masses in our communities for the eternal repose of the soul of the Holy Father, Pope Francis,” Cardinal David said in a social media post.
He instructed priests nationwide to include a prayer intention for the Pope during the Prayer of the Faithful and encouraged them to incorporate Easter prayers and readings throughout the entire octave of Easter.
Cardinal David also offered comprehensive guidance on modifying the Eucharistic Prayer to honor the memory of the late pontiff, ensuring that the adjustments reflect the significance of his contributions to the Church.