Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the beloved Filipino prelate who once led the Archdiocese of Manila, is mourning the loss of his 96-year-old father, Manuel “Tatay Maning” Tagle Sr. As the family prepares a wake in Imus, Cavite and a funeral Mass at Imus Cathedral, Pope Leo XIV has reached out with his condolences.
What happened
Manuel Tagle Sr. died on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 7:09 a.m., according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. He had just celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary with his wife, Milagros, in August. The cardinal, who serves in Rome at the Dicastery for Evangelization, was abroad when his father died and has since flown home.
Pope Leo XIV’s message
In a personal message to Cardinal Tagle, the pope said he was “deeply saddened” and assured the cardinal, his mother and the whole family of his spiritual closeness, praying for Tatay Maning’s eternal rest and offering his apostolic blessing as “a pledge of consolation and peace.”
Wake, funeral and how to help
The wake and viewing runs at Casas Hall in the Bishop’s House, Imus City, Cavite, until Sept. 9, with visits open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Requiem Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Sept. 10 at Imus Cathedral.
The Tagle family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, cash donations go to victims of devastating flash floods in Nepal.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Who died | Manuel “Tatay Maning” Tagle Sr., 96 |
| Date of death | Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, 7:09 a.m. |
| Survivors | Wife Milagros (married 70 years); sons Cardinal Luis Antonio and Manuel Jr. |
| Wake | Casas Hall, Bishop’s House, Imus City, Cavite, until Sept. 9, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Funeral Mass | 10 a.m., Sept. 10, Imus Cathedral |
| In lieu of flowers | Donations to victims of flash floods in Nepal |
Cardinal Tagle, one of the most recognizable Filipino church leaders of his generation, alongside other faith figures the site has covered, asked for prayers for his father, saying he thanked God for his life and mission. For Filipinos who followed his years at the helm of the Manila archdiocese, this is a chance to show the warmth they have always held for a shepherd who never forgot his roots in Imus.
