Manila
The Philippines’ highest ranking Catholic prelate, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (‘Propaganda Fide’), has tested positive for coronavirus.
The news was confirmed by Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, this afternoon, September 11, 2020.
Tagle had a throat swab carried out yesterday when he arrived in Manila. Bruni confirmed that “His Eminence has no symptoms and will remain in solitary confinement in the Philippines, where he is.”
“On Sept. 7,” he explained, “Cardinal Tagle had already undergone a swab in Rome, with negative results.”
Tagle has been based in Rome since his appointment to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in December 2019. He was the Archbishop of Manila and also headed the Vatican’s charity arm – Caritas Internationales, of which Canada’s Development & Peace is a member.
The last time Cardinal Tagle had met with Pope Francis was August 29th.