VATICAN CITY – Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected Pontiff, has made a significant appointment in the Roman Curia, naming Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as the Cardinal-Bishop of Albano. This move is particularly notable as Albano is the Suburbicarian See previously held by Pope Leo XIV himself, then Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, before his election to the papacy earlier this month.

The appointment of Cardinal Tagle, a prominent figure from the Philippines and currently the Pro-Prefect for the Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches of the Dicastery for Evangelization, signals a clear direction for the Pope’s leadership in the universal Church.

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The Diocese of Albano, located just outside Rome, is one of seven ancient Suburbicarian Sees traditionally associated with Cardinal-Bishops, the highest-ranking order within the College of Cardinals.

This elevation to a titular see previously held by the sitting Pontiff is seen as a gesture of profound trust and an affirmation of Cardinal Tagle’s influential role in the global Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born Pope, was elected on May 8, 2025, succeeding the late Pope Francis. His pontificate has already seen significant moves, including his first general audience where he called for humanitarian aid to Gaza and an end to hostilities, and his reaffirmation of the Vatican’s willingness to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Cardinal Tagle has been a Cardinal-Bishop since April 2020, though previously without a specific suburbicarian see. Pope Francis had elevated him to this order, “equating it in all respects to the Cardinals awarded the title of a suburbicarian Church.” His new assignment to Albano formalizes this prestigious position with a specific historic diocese.

This appointment further solidifies Cardinal Tagle’s standing within the Roman Curia and the wider Catholic Church, indicating a continued emphasis on evangelization and global outreach under Pope Leo XIV’s leadership.