n outspoken voice for justice, he faced death threats and criminal charges in his homeland of the Philippines after preaching against drug war killings during the Rodrigo Duterte presidency. Known as Cardinal “Ambo” (which he likes to pair with “Apu,” meaning “grandfather”), he shares Francis’ vision of the church and says the next pope needs to focus on building a church which is “inclusive” and like a “field hospital” for the wounded. The cardinal is respected by his peers, serving as leader of the Philippine’s bishops’ conference, and in 2024 was elected to sit on a council to discuss major reforms in the Catholic Church. Like Tagle, he would be the first Southeast Asian and Filipino pope.