Good News: Pope Francis Appoints Cardinal Tagle to Pontifical Council

The Vatican announced on Wednesday the appointment of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as one of the newest members of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue.

The Filipino religious leader and Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples joins Michael Czerny, SJ, the Under-secretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and four other cardinals in the Church's central office.

The Pontifical Council, which is currently headed by Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, functions according to the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, particularly the Latin declaration Nostra aetate, which means "In our time."

"It is responsible for promoting mutual understanding, respect, and collaboration between Catholics and followers of other religious traditions; encouraging the study of religions; and promoting the formation of persons dedicated to dialogue," as per Vatican News.

Among the 22 new appointees are seven archbishops and nine bishops across the globe.

Back in May, Tagle was promoted to the highest order of Cardinals, the first Asian to be given the title of Cardinal-Bishop.