Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle elected Dean of College of Cardinals

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has been elected dean of the College of Cardinals, succeeding 92-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. Pope Leo XIV approved the election on Oct. 8 and accepted Re's resignation that same day, according to Vatican announcements on Oct. 9. Tagle, 69, is the first Asian to serve in this role.

The dean is elected by the cardinal-bishops to coordinate their activities and represent the group, though the position holds no hierarchical governing authority over other cardinals. Key responsibilities include summoning cardinals to Rome, presiding over a papal funeral, and presiding over a conclave if the dean is under 80 years old.

Tagle will hold the position while continuing his work as pro-prefect for the Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches within the Dicastery for Evangelization. Under rules established by Pope Francis in 2019, the dean serves a five-year term with the possibility of one re-election.

Cardinal Re had held the office since 2020. While all curial officials automatically lost their positions following the election of Pope Leo XIV, the pope confirmed Re's previous service and maintained Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri as vice-dean.