Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, is back in Rome after spending a month in the Philippines for a visit.
The cardinal arrived in Rome on Oct. 11, after leaving Manila the evening before.
Cardinal Tagle was in the country since Sept. 10, supposedly for a brief late summer break, seven months after he assumed his post in the Vatican.
Before leaving Manila, the cardinal celebrated Mass on the morning of on Oct. 10 in his hometown of Imus in Cavite province.
In his homily, he reminded the faithful that “we are all connected” in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and everyone should harness the power of compassion and working together.
“We’re all affected,” said Cardinal Tagle who was found positive of COVID-19 upon his arrival in the country last month.
“Hopefully the response of helping, caring and empathy will be general… an attitude that does not discriminate,” said the prelate in his homily.
“We hope that a deeper collaboration will live in the midst of the pandemic. Let us show that this virus can be defeated by stronger love and sympathy,” he added.
Although asymptomatic of the disease, Cardinal Tagle went on mandatory quarantine during his stay in the country.
The cardinal came home to visit his elderly parents in Imus, especially his mother, who celebrated her 90th birthday on Sept. 30.
On Oct. 4, Cardinal Tagle, former prelate of Manila, surprised churchgoers when he celebrated Mass at the Manila Catherdral.
The cardinal also led the blessing of a COVID-19 testing laboratory run by the Philippine Red Cross in Mandaluyong City last week.
