Cardinal Tagle elected new Dean of College of Cardinals

By Salvatore Cernuzio

After leading one of the world’s oldest bodies—the College of Cardinals—for nearly seven years, 92-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re is stepping down as Dean. He is succeeded by the Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, 69, Pro-Prefect of the Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches within the Dicastery for Evangelization.

Cardinal Tagle, who—according to the Holy See—will assume the title of the Suburbicarian Church of Ostia while retaining the title of the Suburbicarian Church of Albano, was elected to the position on Thursday, 8 October, by the cardinals of the Order of Cardinal-Bishops. The appointment to this top-ranking position in the ecclesiastical hierarchy was announced on Friday.

Pope Francis’s Reform

Cardinal Re—a historic figure of the Roman Curia who has served through the last four pontificates, from John Paul II to the present—retains the title of the Suburbicarian Church of Sabina-Poggio Mirteto and assumes the title of “Dean Emeritus” of the College of Cardinals.

This latter title is an innovation introduced by Pope Francis in a 2019 motu proprio, in which he reformed the office of Dean, establishing that the role would no longer be for life but for a five-year term, renewable only once. This decision stemmed from the fact that “with the increase in the number of cardinals” (fifteen beyond the traditional threshold of 120 electors), “ever-greater responsibilities” were weighing on the Dean of the College of Cardinals.

While confirming that the leader of the Sacred College is elected by members of the Order of Bishops—in accordance with the procedures established by Canon 352 § 2 of the Code of Canon Law—Pope Francis had instituted a fixed term of office and the possibility of a second term.

The reappointment of Cardinal Re

Cardinal Re—appointed Dean in 2020 to succeed Cardinal Angelo Sodano—was reappointed in 2025 by Pope Francis himself, who valued the work he had done during the Conclave of March 2013. At that time, Re—a former nuncio who had served as Assessor and Substitute for General Affairs at the Secretariat of State under John Paul II, and as Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops from 2000 to 2010—was a cardinal-elector but performed the duties that would have fallen to the then-Dean Sodano, who was absent from the Sistine Chapel having passed the age of 80. The Argentine Pontiff also appreciated the characteristic verve, experience, and straightforward nature of the cardinal from Brescia.

On 7 January 2025, the Pope reappointed him for a second term; Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri was also reconfirmed in his role as Vice-Dean.

Three months later, acting in his capacity as Dean, Cardinal Re presided over the funeral rites for Jorge Mario Bergoglio on April 26, 2025, as well as the subsequent Missa pro eligendo Pontifice (Mass for the Election of the Pope)—the Eucharistic celebration held on the morning of the beginning of the Conclave on 7 May 2025, which subsequently saw the election of Pope Leo XIV.

Primus inter pares

At the age of 92, Cardinal Re—a native of Borno—thus concludes this service to the Church. He is succeeded by the younger Cardinal Tagle, a cardinal widely known within the Asian Church and the global Church alike; until now, Tagle has headed one of the two sections of the Dicastery formerly known as Propaganda Fide.

Tagle will therefore lead the cardinals of the world, though always in the capacity of primus inter pares—meaning he will not exercise hierarchical governing authority over his fellow cardinals, but rather coordinate their activities.

The Dean’s primary duty is to convene any future Conclave in the event of a sede vacante (vacant see) and to preside over it, provided he is under the age of eighty and thus included among the electors.

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