Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is indeed the perfect choice for the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
His Eminence was appointed to the post on December 8, 2019.
Evangelization has always been in Cardinal Tagle's heart and in his various talks around the world, he does not fail to mention that at the end of the day, he remembers that he is still, at his core, a pastor.
PHILIPPINE CONFERENCE ON NEW EVANGELIZATION
In fact, after being appointed Cardinal on October 24, 2012, one of the first things that Cardinal Tagle did was to launch the very first Philippine Conference on New Evangelization (PCNE) which was held in October 2013. This was attended by almost 10,000 attendees and was so successful that the following year, the Archdiocese of Manila created the Office for the Promotion of New Evangelization and the PCNE has been an annual program of this office ever since.
Watch: Cardinal Tagle in 2013 inviting everyone to the first ever Philippine Conference on New Evangelization:
In this invitation he pointed out three reasons why it would be a worthwhile conference:
First, to once again experience the beauty of an encounter with Christ ("Una, maranasan natin muli ang ganda ng makaulayaw si Hesus").
Secondly, to experience the beauty of being one church, a living community ("Pangalawa, maranansan ang kagandahan ng pagiging isang simabahan, sambayanang buhay")
Third, to experience the fire of the mission or evangelization in a changing and wounded world but a world that the Lord loves nonetheless ("Pangatlo, upang maranasan natin ang pagaalab ng misyon o evangliezation sa mundong nagbabago at sugatan subalit mundo na mahal pa rin ng Diyos".)
He ends by reminding his audience, "God will make all things new. Let us participate in the New Evangelization where God will act so that the world and humanity will be renewed."
FULFILLING POPE FRANCIS' VISION OF A MISSIONARY CHURCH
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of New Evangelization, in a letter to Cardinal Tagle dated October 15, 2013, lauded PCNE, noting: "The three major movements of the Philippine Conference on New Evangelization -- a personal encounter with Jesus, encountering Jesus in the Church through the Word and the Eucharist, and the command to 'go and preach the Gospel to the whole creation' -- will assist the Church in the Philippines to correspond to Pope Francis' vision for the Universal Church which he expressed so clearly in his address to seminarians, novices and others in vocational discernment this past July in Rome: 'I would like a more missionary Church, one that is not staid. This beautiful Church that makes progress.'" (From the Vatican, October 15, 2013; Prot. N. NE/830/2013/P)
OFFICE FOR THE PROMOTION OF NEW EVANGELIZATION (OPNE)
The Philippine Conference for the Promotion of New Evangelization, now under the Office for the Promotion of New Evangelization headed by Father Jason Laguerta, is successfully on its seventh year and continues to be attended by thousands.
Cardinal Tagle is always the main speaker and homilist at this conference, doing what he does best - inspiring those who hear him to rekindle and renew their love for the Lord.
DIGITAL EVANGELIZATION
It was also Cardinal Tagle who inspired the creation of this very website, DominusEst.PH, with the end in mind of evangelization through this digital platform and various social media.
The website was launched by His Eminence at the Pista ng Misyon (Feast of the Mission) celebrating the Extraordinary Month of Mission last October 22, 2019.
/MS