Tagle inducted to French Legion of Honor

Luis Antonio Tagle

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the highest-ranking Filipino prelate serving in the Vatican, has been inducted to the French Legion of Honor, the highest recognition France bestows on its citizens and foreign nationals.

In ceremonies held in Rome on Thursday, Tagle was cited for his “remarkable career as a man of the Church at the service of the common good,” the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and Radio Veritas said in their respective news sites.

The Filipino prelate is pro-prefect of the dicastery for evangelization, one of several administrative institutions under the Roman Curia, or central governing body of the Roman Catholic Church.

Established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Legion of Honor is conferred on individuals for making significant contributions in their fields.

Radio Veritas quoted Tagle as saying: “I interpret this not so much as a recognition of my personal work, but as an affirmation of the mission of the whole Church called evangelization.”

“This recognition impels us to consistently and joyfully share Jesus and His gospel to all peoples through word, prayer, and the service of charity and human development,” he added.

“I accept this recognition in the name of the countless men and women who have served and continue to serve the evangelizing mission of the Church,” Tagle said.

“They are legion! In a special way I thank the priests, religious men and women, societies of apostolic life, mission societies from courageous lay people from France who have gone to the ends of the Earth to proclaim the Gospel,” he said.

‘Soul and heart’

French Ambassador to the Holy See Florence Mangin gave Tagle, 66, his insignia for the rank of officer of the Legion.

Present during

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