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Facebook-savvy bishop installed as new Manila archbishop
Photo from Archbishop Tagle's Facebook fan page.
(Updated 10:13 a.m.) New Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle was installed Monday morning as the 32nd Archbishop of Manila in a ceremony held at the historic Manila Cathedral. The position, most famously held by the late iconic Jaime Cardinal Sin, is traditionally a politically influential one. The 54-year-old Tagle, who is active on Facebook, is considered to be a progressive compared to other bishops, and expected to be a conciliatory rather than a polarizing figure.
Catholic bishops, priests and the faithful gave the new Archbishop a warm festive welcome, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported.
Even before 6 a.m., Catholic faithful from Imus, Cavite performed a "Karakol" dance for Tagle near the Manila Cathedral. Tagle took part in the dancing, the report said.
Security was tight at the cathedral, the report said, due to the number of people attending Tagle's installation.
Among the guests were 75 bishops, 800 priests from the Manila archdiocese, and 500 seminarians.
A Mass was concelebrated right after the installation by three cardinals—Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Jose Cardinal Sanchez, and Cardinal Rosales—as well as by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, and the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.
Archbishop Tagle vowed to serve his new flock as he was installed to his new post.
Speaking at the start of the Mass marking his installation, Tagle thanked God for the "opportunity to serve."
"I appear before you as one who serves. You are God's precious gifts to me as I start my ministry here," he said.
From Imus
Archbishop Tagle was the former bishop of Imus, his hometown in Cavite. He is also known as a humble man who rides a cheap bike.
Archbishop Tagle succeeded the 79-year-old Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, whose resignation Pope Benedict XVI accepted last October 13. Cardinal Rosales has reached the mandatory retirement age in 2007.
The 54-year-old Archbishop is familiar to many Catholic TV viewers, as he hosts the country's lone weekly catechetical television program, "The Word Exposed (TWE)".
Archbishop Tagle is on the faculty of the Loyola School of Theology at the Ateneo de Manila University, and the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay run by the Society of the Divine Word.
He has served as a member of the International Theological Commission and other bodies in the Vatican, and is acknowledged as one of the world’s leading theologians.
He earned his Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Catholic University of America in 1991. 
A challenging time
Archbishop Tagle officially took possession of the Philippines’ most influential archdiocese amid a period that has divided Filipino Catholics over contentious issues.
He is expected to face challenges such as opposition to the Catholic Church’s stance on controversial issues, such as the reproductive health bill and same-sex marriages.
Photo from The Word Exposed.
In an interview with GMA News Online, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said Tagle could use his strength as a preacher in his new archdiocese. “Here, he can do a lot to spread the Good News, to explain to the people about the faith,” Pabillo said.
“Be confident lang,” he added. “Mabigat na responsabilidad ‘yon, malaki ‘yung archdiocese, at saka maraming pananagutan, pero be confident lang that he has the support of the priests and the laity.”
In another interview, RH bill advocate Esperanza Cabral said she understands from the newspapers “that he is a very forward-looking kind of person so I hope that in his case, science can inform his religion.”
“I want him to be rational in every way, to not engage in emotionally charged discussions and debates, and just to keep to the issue,” added Cabral, a former Health secretary.
Widescreen, Internet
The report said the 1700-capacity Manila Cathedral could not accommodate all the guests, and a widescreen was set up outside for those who could not be accommodated inside.
On the other hand, the Manila Archdiocese streamed live on the Internet the entire installation ceremony at www.tvmaria.net and www.quiapochurch.net. –With Paterno Esmaquel II/KG/HS GMA News
