For a brief, weighty instant, the world waited in silence. Behind the sealed doors of the Sistine Chapel, beneath the watchful eyes of Michelangelo’s masterpieces, the crimson-clad cardinals took their sacred oath. The murmurs had faded, the ballots had been cast, and destiny hovered in the balance.
The Catholic cardinals have spoken - American Cardinal Robert Prevost has ascended as Pope Leo XIV.
The news cycle has rapidly unraveled the identity of this new pontiff, dissecting the reasons for his election and speculating on the implications of his reign.
Yet amid the fervor, another name lingers in our minds – the name of the man many believed was a natural successor to Pope Francis, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. The Asian Francis, once seen as a formidable contender, was left in the shadows. The pressing question remains: Why did Tagle falter in his pursuing the papacy?
The foreboding echoes of my November 27, 2022, ATABAY article, Cardinal Tagle Sacking: Refiner’s Fire or Missing the Boat to Papacy? offer insights that may unlock the answer. It examined Tagle’s abrupt removal from Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican’s global charity network, a dismissal that hinted at deeper issues within his leadership. An independent review exposed a troubling workplace environment – allegations of favoritism, verbal abuse, and managerial lapses surfaced, prompting sweeping changes. No financial misconduct or personal scandal was found, yet the specter of “bad management” loomed large.
The Weight of Leadership
Years ago, when I taught management at a local university, I would begin my class by writing POSDCIR on the board – the seven core functions of management: Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing, Controlling, Innovating, and Representing. Among them, I stressed two critical people aspects: Organizing and Staffing. The description of the job position must always precede the selection of the person filling it. The reverse – slotting a favored individual into a role before defining responsibilities – is the breeding ground of organizational dysfunction.
Favoritism, often an unconscious misstep, is a managerial flaw that erodes trust. One hospital administrator once confided to me that the resolution to his people conflicts was found in a single management book in his hand. “The solutions were all here,” he said, astonished. Leadership, after all, is a discipline that extends beyond intuition – it demands structure, discernment, and an ability to cultivate talent within a system rather than around it.
Was Tagle’s tenure at Caritas plagued by fundamental management shortcomings? Did he lack the structural rigor necessary for leading a global humanitarian organization? These are not accusations but contemplations – questions that demand reflection. His theological prowess was never in doubt, but leadership within the Vatican operates not just in the realm of faith, but also in the domain of institutional governance.
Lessons from Nehemiah
The Bible offers its template for leadership – none more compelling than Nehemiah, the man tasked with reconstructing Jerusalem’s ruined walls. Unlike those who lead from abstraction, Nehemiah aligned his people with his vision, communicated clear objectives, and delegated responsibilities with precision. His model exemplified leadership and management, proving that faith alone does not build structure – strategy does.
A scholar, Ogoshi K. Deborah, identified key traits that made Nehemiah effective:
1. He prays.
2. He provides a clear vision.
3. He uses available resources.
4. He has foresight.
5. He attends to his people’s needs, morals, and values.
6. He is a role model.
7. He adapts to resistance to change.
If these qualities defined strong leadership, where did Tagle fall within this framework? Did he exemplify vision and adaptability, or did lapses in structure hinder his rise? The answer is not singular, nor does history reveal its cards too easily.
The Dossier and the Shadows of the Past
Before the conclave, reports emerged of a dossier presented to the voting cardinals – The College of Cardinals Report, a comprehensive assessment of papal candidates. While framed as a neutral resource, some Vatican insiders claimed it carried an implicit anti-Francis slant, subtly shaping preferences among electors. If such a document held weight, did it resurrect the specter of Tagle’s past governance at Caritas?
The reality remains elusive. Yet, as the world watched, a poignant image surfaced – Tagle, standing prominently in a conclave photo, overshadowed by the man behind him who would soon wear the Fisherman’s Ring. “History has a remarkable way of surprising us. Sometimes, the true narrative begins in the shadows, not in the spotlight,” one Facebook user profoundly commented.
Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Tagle
Belgian artist Erik Pevernagie once wrote: “When we feel lost in time, with only shadows of the past living in our mind… we may wonder: ‘What went wrong?’”
Perhaps Cardinal Tagle, in quiet reflection, has pondered the same. His cognizance is a handwriting on the wall: “The papal decree is a call to walk humbly with God and be open to a process of discernment, which includes acknowledging shortcomings.”
Leadership is not merely about ascendancy but about the ability to hold trust. The Bible offers a stark litmus test: Whoever can be trusted in small matters can also be trusted in great ones.
Whether Tagle truly missed the boat to the papacy, or whether history charted a different course, remains a question without absolute answers.
Let me wrap up this article with the tale of a boy named Luis who loved building boats. He dreamed that one day, his finest creation would sail down the great river beyond his town. When the moment finally came, a sudden gust of wind sent the boat off course, appearing to have capsized before it could begin its journey. Heartbroken, he watched as the waters swallowed his dream.
Days later, a traveler arrived carrying a familiar wooden boat. “I found this washed ashore,” he said. “It floated beyond the bend, where the river widens into the sea.”
Luis’ plan had been small, but the river carried his dream to places he never imagined.
Perhaps Cardinal Tagle, too, envisioned a different path, only for fate to chart its course. The currents of providence rarely follow the maps we draw. As Ignatius of Loyola once said: “God uses crooked sticks to draw straight lines.”
Content & editing put together in collaboration with Bing Microsoft AI-powered Co-Pilot
Head photo courtesy of ChatGPT image creator & Canva
Still photos courtesy of CNN, Shutterstock, The Guardian, Adobe Stock, Getty Images, & The Up Devotional
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