Highlights of Tagle’s Ateneo speech

MANILA, Philippines – 
Cardinal Tagle is back in the Philippines, after being catapulted to world fame during the search for a new pope.
 He tells graduates, it was a journey of enlightenment for him too.
 Katherine Visconti reports.

On his second day back from Vatican City… Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is back on familiar ground. 

A former student and teacher at The Ateneo De Manila University, he addresses the 2013 graduating class.

He bows to one of the school Vice Presidents, displaying the classic humility that made him a social media favorite for the papacy.

The shy cardinal gets personal, sharing how the media attention in the run up to the election made him so uncomfortable, he stopped watching TV, checking the internet and reading newspapers.

Walking down the street, I would be mobbed by Italians. They would say, “You’re the Filipino cardinal! Can we have a photo with you? I felt like I wanted to fade away. I wished the earth would open up and swallow me whole. Isn’t that what the Jesuits taught us, to remain humble?

LUIS ANTIONIO CARDINAL TAGLE

MANILA ARCHBISHOP

At first he thought the attention was suffocating. Even after the conclave, he couldn’t walk the streets of Italy without someone asking for his picture.

But he found new perspective talking to one Filipina working overseas in Padua.

She said, “Even if you weren’t chosen as the Pope, I am thankful for you. The world now knows how great Filipinos are. After our employers heard about you on the radio and TV, they started treating us better. We were more proud to be Filipinos.”

LUIS ANTIONIO CARDINAL TAGLE

MANILA ARCHBISHOP 

Tagle truly is in his home court. The crowd laughs and claps along with the cardinal.

Tagle even gets emotional when talking about finding God.

When someone comes to me and says, “I feel lost.” I tell them, “Just wait to be found. As you are searching for god, god is searching for you.”

LUIS ANTIONIO CARDINAL TAGLE

MANILA ARCHBISHOP

His message about feeling lost resonates with the students about to leave school. 

Klyne Aquino says Tagle’s advice about having faith and patience is reassuring since he is graduating without a job. 

I’m going to be unemployed for a couple of months or, if I’m lucky, a month or two. But I’ll be patient and hopeful.

KLYNE AQUINO

ECONOMICS MAJOR 

Tagle’s message is heartfelt. As he cries he notices some of the audience gets emotional with him.

Why are you guys crying? I promised I wouldn’t cry, but what can I do?

LUIS ANTIONIO CARDINAL TAGLE

MANILA ARCHBISHOP 

He closes his commencement address by calling on the students to live a life of service and a life for God.

I hope that more people, especially Filipinos, become enlightened about the true meaning of life, beyond self-interest.

LUIS ANTIONIO CARDINAL TAGLE

MANILA ARCHBISHOP

The audience embraces his message and responds with a loud standing ovation. Katherine Visconti, Rappler, Manila. – Rappler.com