Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has been elected to the “Particular Congregation,” a small but crucial group managing the Catholic Church’s day-to-day affairs during the vacancy of the papal seat, known as sede vacante. His election took place during the fifth session of the General Congregation of cardinals on Monday.
The General Congregation, composed of the entire College of Cardinals, oversees major decisions during this transition period. Meanwhile, the Particular Congregation, consisting of the Camerlengo and three cardinals who rotate every three days, handles the Church’s daily administrative tasks. This system follows the guidelines set by the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, which regulates papal elections.
Tagle, currently the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, joins German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munich and Freising, and French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, in the group. Marx was appointed to serve as coordinator for the Council for the Economy.
Both Tagle and Mamberti are frequently mentioned among those considered potential papal successors. Notably, Mamberti, as cardinal proto-deacon, holds the honor of announcing the new pope from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Monday’s session drew more than 180 cardinals to the Vatican, including just over 100 electors, according to an official statement from the Vatican press office.
