he Filipino cardinal is a humble, yet charismatic leader often dubbed the “Asian Francis” due to his close association with the pastoral priorities of the Francis pontificate. For several years, he led the church’s global charitable arm. In 2019, he was asked by Francis to be prefect for the Vatican department for evangelization, which has seen him work closely with leaders of churches in the developing world. Although an engaging leader, some have questioned his management skills after a Vatican overhaul of the leadership of Caritas – the federation of Catholic charities – saw him step down as president. Tagle, known as “Chito,” would be the first Southeast Asian and Filipino pope and his candidacy reflects the growing influence of the church in Asia.