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Luis Antonio Tagle, a servant of Christ and a faithful confidant of the Vatican, is standing in front of His Holiness. This is their first private audience since Leo XIV was elected. Last time, he was beside Robert Prevost during the conclave, but that Robert was now Leo XIV: the Bishop of Rome, the Vicar of Christ, and the Pontiff. The now Holy Father was his friend, a close companion in the church. Would their friendship stay the same now that the Robert he once knew holds the highest position in the entire Catholic Church?
“What’s this, Your Eminence? A present for me?” Leo was beaming as he took a peek inside the paper bag the cardinal placed on top of his table.
“Yes, Holy Father, it was from Cebu. You once mentioned that you enjoyed their dried mangoes, so I bought some when I visited there.” The cardinal was standing, feeling contented as he saw the Holy Father’s enjoyment upon taking hold of the packets.
His Holiness gestured for him to take a seat as he said, “Thank you, Your Eminence. Shall we start?”
Both took their seats, settling in to discuss important Curia matters, when the Holy Father suddenly asked him about his family.
“How was your trip? Is your family well, your parents?”
Luis was caught off guard by the question, as he anticipated them quickly diving into important matters. But he still replied, indulging in the small talk His Holiness started, “They’re doing well, Your Holiness. My parents are still healthy for their age, and they were very glad when I came home. You know, I’m very busy, with only a little time to spend with them.”
The other rested his hand on the table, looking straight into Luis’ eyes. “And you, how are you? Did you enjoy your trip back home?”
He felt awkward with how the Holy Father was staring at him, his fingers fidgeting with each other as he answered, “It was great, Your Holiness. I enjoyed the short time I had with my fellow Filipinos. It was good to be back, even for a bit. But why are we talking about me, Holy Father?”
“Nothing. Was it weird to catch up with my friend?”
“No, Holy Father. I apologize, it was rude of me to question you. In that case, how was your first week as the pontiff?” The cardinal was now feeling confident in the talk, feeling the presence of a friend and not the intimidating energy of the Vicar of Christ.
Leo smiled, finally figuring out that his friend was no longer intimidated by him. “I’m glad you asked that because no one ever has since the election. It’s like I'm here just to lead the flock and not as the normal person I am. As if I don’t get tired, worn out, and such. But I’m doing okay not that good, but coping with everything.”
“I’m sorry for that, Your Holiness. If things take a toll on you, you have my number, right? You can reach out to me anytime, I’ll be there.” Luis flashed him a genuine smile, a smile that made his heart flutter, a smile simply telling him that everything would be alright.
“Thank you, my friend. I apologize for the talk, I hoarded the time for personal matters. Let’s get to the important matters, shall we?” Leo said as he gathered the files needed for their meeting.
Their meeting went on for over an hour. “Thank you for your time, Your Eminence.” Leo took Luis’s hands and shook them carefully, looking him in the eyes while offering him his brightest smile.
“Thank you, Holy Father. I’ll reach out another time to discuss the updates on the projects with you.” Clasping his other hand with the Holy Father’s, he bowed as he took a step backward to leave the office.
“I'll enjoy the dried mangoes,” Leo said before the other went out.
As the cardinal exited, he caught the Holy Father’s secretary's gaze. Monsignor Edgard was smiling widely. “I’m glad the Holy Father still has you as his closest friend, Your Eminence. He has someone to talk to when things get hard.”
“I’m glad to be of help, Ed. We’ve known each other for so long, but to tell you, I was intimidated by him earlier, as he is now the pontiff.” Luis laughed as he remembered their encounter earlier.
Ed, returning the laugh, said, “I get you, Your Eminence. That was also what I felt the first time I saw him in his all-white cassock. But he is still the Robert Prevost we know, just in a full white get-up and as Leo.”
“Ahem.”
Both of them turned to the sound, Leo was standing at the slightly ajar door, smirking at them. “What are you two doing? Backstabbing me?” He laughed as the two looked horrified at the Holy Father’s thought. “No, just kidding. So where’s my next audience, Ed? Let Cardinal Tagle go on.” He shooed the other away, as he knew that the cardinal had another meeting ahead.
“I’ll get going, Holy Father, Ed.” Bowing his head, he bid farewell to the two.
As soon as the cardinal was out of their sight and earshot, Leo strode towards Ed with a questioning look. “What were you two talking about?”
“Not everything is for you to know, Your Holiness,” Ed replied in a teasing tone. “Oh, here’s your next audience, Holy Father,” he continued as he caught a glimpse of a tall man in red and black walking in their direction.
“Good day, Your Eminence, come.” Leo guided him towards the office, holding open the door. “We’ll talk about it later, Edgard.” The Holy Father’s gaze was shooting daggers at him before closing the door.
“My bad,” Ed whispered to himself as he was left alone outside.
—
Knock, knock.
“Come in,” Leo said, lifting his gaze from the papers to the door, seeing Ed peek through the opening.
His secretary said, “His Eminence Tagle is here, Holy Father.”
“Tell him to wait for me there, let me just fix my things.” Leo started to get up, stacking the papers and putting them in the corner of his table. Then removing his glasses, placing them back in their case inside his pocket.
Outside, the cardinal was sitting in the chair in front of Ed’s table. The two were chatting about their last encounter.
“Do you know? He threatened me because I teased him. He was curious about what we were talking about after your first meeting, and I told him he doesn’t need to know everything.” Ed laughed out loud, even slapping his thighs.
Luis was laughing the same, if there was someone who could tease the pontiff that much, it would be Edgard. The two go way back, as he became the pontiff's secretary in 2024 when he was still a cardinal. The two are like a father and son duo, as his secretary, Edgard knows almost everything about His Holiness. His schedule, the breakfast he ate, and the time he slept. So, if there was someone to tease the pontiff without him getting mad, it’s Ed.
“What happened to you then? Did you tell him? Or did you go on with your 'he need not know everything' agenda?”
The two were struggling to keep the conversation going as waves of laughter rippled through them when suddenly, a voice interrupted them, “He told me the truth. Ed is a responsible and honest man. He gets it from me, huh?”
The cardinal and the secretary stopped, slowly turning their heads towards the voice. Neither of the two spoke, not wanting to out themselves further for making fun of the Holy Father.
“Don’t be scared. No worries, as Ed said, I’m still the same Robert you both know.” Leo stood in front of them, hands clasped on his belly. “Now, may we go on with our meeting, Your Eminence?”
With that, the cardinal smiled at the man sitting across from him before standing up, clutching his messenger bag. “After you, Holy Father.” The two walked side by side, while His Holiness’s secretary and two guards followed after them.
Luis was not aware as to why they were having their meeting outside the office, so he asked, “Where are we going, Your Holiness? Why aren’t we conducting the meeting in your office?”
Leo stopped in his tracks, looking at the man beside him, “I simply wanted us to breathe some fresh air. We’re old men, right? Might as well use the time for us to relax with nature while working.”
“We’re killing two birds with one stone, huh?” he replied, slanting his head as he pouted.
Cute, the Holy Father thought, but he shook those thoughts away faster than the speed of light.
They continued walking, with Ed and the guards following them, arriving at the garden. The greenery relaxed their eyes, the cold wind hit their skin, and the colorful flowers gave life to the whole garden.
The pontiff led them to a bench near the fountain, the sound of water splashing rippling through their ears.
“Remember how we met here last time at the consistory with Pope Francis, may he rest in peace, and you mentioned how you thought that our first meeting was in 2013? When in reality it was in 2012? And two times that year,” Leo started, his voice laced with a mocking defense.
Is he offended? No. Why would he be? They’re just friends. It’s normal to forget about these kinds of things. But still, he wanted to know why.
Luis was caught off guard. Is the Supreme Pontiff mad at him? Weren’t they okay earlier?
He coughed, trying to hide the nervousness creeping up his limbs. “I’m sorry, Your Holiness. There was too much going on at that time. I did not have the chance to remember everyone, and in a sense, we only had a few seconds of greeting each other. So how could I remember those from all the people who also greeted me?” He spoke up, realizing that he had not done anything wrong to offend the pontiff, he was simply being himself.
“I—”
Luis cut him off, “If I offended you in any way, Your Holiness, I sincerely apologize. May we get on with our agenda?”
On the other side of the garden, the three men with them were listening intently, when the Holy Father got cut off by the cardinal, the three of them giggled. Can someone do that to the Holy Father? Ed thought to himself, But Cardinal Tagle is not ‘just someone,’ while nodding.
After discussing the recent projects and events the cardinal is handling, they went back inside, chatting about random facts while walking on the shiny floor of the illuminated hallway leading to the papal office.
“You’re always in the way. Why can’t you mind your own business?”
A loud voice echoed through the hall, sounding familiar in the cardinal’s ears. Is that my friend?
“You,” it was Georg Gänswein, jabbing a finger towards Cardinal Pablo David, mostly known as Ambo, “Mind your own business. And stop with the use of AI. Are you too uneducated to use that type of useless technology?”
Ambo looked dejected, “Why, you! I know you're older than me, but I won’t think twice to punc—”
His statement was interrupted by the footsteps nearing their position. The arguments stopped, looks of horror emerged from the two as they saw the Holy Father walking towards them.
“What are you fighting about, you two? If you’re going to argue with each other, do it inside an office, not in the middle of the hallway,” Luis spoke up, faster than the Holy Father, his gaze shooting daggers in their direction. “Ambo, Georg, behave,” he said, pointing at the two of them.
Bowing their heads, not adding fuel to the fire, Ambo and Georg silently nodded to the two. They were afraid of when the Holy Father would speak up to scold them, but that never happened.
“Let’s go, Your Holiness.”
The two continued walking towards the papal office, while the pontiff looked amusedly toward the man beside him. “You handled them well.”
“I’m always the mom type of the group, so it’s normal for me.” Luis smiled at the pontiff, making his stomach fill with butterflies.
Back at the office, the cardinal bid them farewell as they arrived in front of the door, so now, only His Holiness and his secretary were once again left in the room.
“You just let him cut you off like that, Holy Father?” Ed asked, as he walked towards his table.
Leo looked up from the doorknob of his office, “Well, he’s my friend. I’m closest to him aside from my Augustinian brothers. I’ll let him do whatever he wants with me as long as he does his job perfectly.”
Ed smirked, “Or maybe there’s another reason?”
Leo was speechless. How can Ed sense everything so accurately?
Not bothering to answer his secretary, his hands turned the knob, hauling his body inside as fast as he could.
Am I falling in love? At this age, at that?
—
A morning walk was desired by the cardinal, feeling the fresh morning air, seeing the tourists go about their lists of places to be, and smiling at the other brothers in Christ he saw along the way.
It was 9 a.m., strolling around with a hot cup of coffee was the perfect breakfast he desired. He almost walked past a record store when something caught his eye. A square, green cover with a face in the middle with pompadour hair, titled The Best of Mozart. He knew the Holy Father loved the composer.
Glancing at his watch, he thought, I still have time, then went straight inside the store, grabbing the only thing he wanted: the Mozart vinyl record for His Holiness.
Would it not look suspicious if I randomly gave him something? Why not? It’s only a friendly gift, his inner thoughts surrounded him as he stared at the record in his hands.
A friend, hmmm.
Nodding to himself, he walked to the cashier and paid for it, sipping his coffee and gripping the record at his side as he continued walking to meet the Holy Father. Bowing his head and smiling at the guards at the gate, he was almost skipping his way inside.
When he arrived outside the Holy Father’s office, along with his half-empty cup of coffee, messenger bag, and a paper bag containing the record, he saw Monsignor Ed’s table was empty. Taking a glance at his watch, he thought, I’m a bit early, that’s why. In fact, he wasn't just a bit early, he was very early, as there were still thirty minutes before their meeting.
He sat down in the chair in front of the secretary’s table, patiently waiting for them to arrive and start their meeting, resting his back and continuing to sip his coffee.
Footsteps were heard, the figures of two people breathing heavily approaching the office. Chito waited for the figures to emerge in front of him, his eyes roaming above the cup as he took small sips every second.
“…your cassock is in the cabinet inside the office, I’ll handle your first audience and inform him to wait for a bit.” It was the secretary’s voice, shaking, almost out of breath.
The cardinal almost spat out his coffee when the two arrived in front of him, immediately making him stand up and lower the cup to the table near him. The three stared at one another for a minute, the cardinal stunned as he observed the two. The Holy Father, along with his secretary, both wearing shorts, the latter hugging the Pope’s thick legs, their black T-shirts drenched in sweat, and with their respective rubber shoes.
“You go ahead, Your Holiness. I’ll handle the cardinal.” Monsignor Ed walked forward, opening the door straight to the Holy Father’s office, the older man smiled at him as he walked past.
The secretary faced him, “Settle yourself, Eminence. Apologies for the state you saw us in, let me change and get back to you in a bit.”
“Take your time. Sorry for bothering you by being early.” The secretary smiled at him, nodding his head and leaving him by himself to sit again and finish his coffee.
Minutes passed, and Monsignor Ed came back, the two had a small talk before the designated time for the private audience arrived. “You can come in now, Eminence,” the young man gestured for him to enter. Gathering his things, he went inside, seeing the Holy Father, changed into his pristine white cassock, settled in his chair.
He sat down in front of the man. “Before anything else, let me give you something, Your Holiness,” he said, lifting the paper bag and placing it on top of the table.
“You don’t need to bring something with you every time we do these audiences, Eminence,” he said as he took out the contents of the bag. The Holy Father cradled the vinyl in his arms, his eyes sparkling from staring at it. “I’ve always wanted one of these, but I never got to buy one. Thank you very much, Your Eminence.”
The smile the older man offered him made the cardinal’s heart melt. How can the Holy Father be this lovely?
“But sadly, I don’t have a record player for this, but surely I must display this in my room.”
Oh, I didn’t think of that.
Their meeting went on, continuing the talk on their last agendas, reports from the dicasteries the cardinal was handling, and some personal questions.
“Where did that come from, Holy Father?” his secretary asked when he entered after the recent meeting with the Secretary of the State, the green vinyl caught his gaze as he walked up to the table.
The Holy Father smiled, lifting the record up and gently caressing the cover. “A friend, a close friend.”
—
Another private audience, the Holy Father can’t get enough of me, huh. He slapped himself away from his thoughts, walking towards the table in the man’s office. One thing’s for sure, he’s here because he handles several dicasteries, nothing more.
As soon as he neared the table, a melodic sound surrounded his ears. He looked around the office, trying to spot where it was coming from, when he saw a record player in the corner on top of a side table.
Last time he said he didn’t have one, he thought, pointing his finger at it after sitting down. “Oh that, I had them buy one. It’ll be a waste of your gift if I don’t get to play it,” the older man answered the questioning look on his face.
He knows this song, the Piano Concerto No. 21 (Andante), the one His Holiness mentioned was his favorite the second time they met and had a small chat.
Hmm, he bought a player? Which could mean nothing.
As soon as he sat down, the Holy Father asked, “My dear Chito, can I call you Chito for now?” He was startled, what could be happening for the man to ask to call him by his nickname?
“Of course, Holy Fath—”
“Call me Bob. Only when it’s just us.”
He nodded, too stunned to say anything more.
“I called you here for an important matter. I’m sure you know about the Fisherman’s Ring, right?”
“Yes,” Chito didn't like the feeling of where this conversation was going.
Bob placed his arms on top of the table, clasping his fingers together, his stance leaning forward. “I want it to be you, the one to vest it upon me at the inauguration mass. Would you, Chito?
Bob held his hands from across the table, pleading eyes looking at him, he could see it clearly because Bob was not wearing his glasses.
He bowed his head, tears streaming down. The feeling of the Holy Father asking him to take a big role for his inauguration overwhelmed him.
Why me?
They’re friends, for real, or so he feels. They’re close, so close. He’s text mates with him. They were seatmates at Mass and events, hell, even standing together in a line, they’re beside each other. He’s known him for more than a decade. He was there with him as his name got called in every ballot, handing him a candy, and most importantly was there with him in the Room of Tears. With him as he accepted his fate. With him as he changed from a cardinal into the highest official in the Catholic Church.
Yes, they’ve been through a lot together, but still, why him?
Surely there’s someone more deserving than him, someone Bob trusts more than him, someone he should be asking this very question. So why would he choose Chito? Why give him this responsibility?
“Wh—,” he choked on his sob, “why?”
“You’re the first I thought of when they informed me about needing someone to offer it to me. You, Chito, are the most deserving of all. You’re my greatest confidant, Chito, please?” There it is, Bob’s pleading eyes, the gaze he can’t ever resist.
However, Chito can’t be pulled by that gaze for now. “Can you give me time to think about it, Bob?” He calmed himself down, wiping the tears away with his handkerchief, reaching out to lay his hand on top of Bob’s clasped ones, genuinely smiling.
“Of course, Chito. Reach out to me as soon as you’ve made your decision, hmm?” returning his smile then finally locking his hands with the other. “I’ll wait for you.”
—
Bob did wait for Chito.
His secretary saw it, the way he constantly checked his phone, jumping out of his seat every time the door to his office opened hoping it was the cardinal, the anticipation whenever he would deliver news to the Holy Father, it was absurd. Only because Monsignor Ed was not aware of the conversation they had.
I’ve come to a decision. May I meet with you today?
This was it, the notification Bob had been waiting for, finally it had come. This was the only time he typed so fast, his fingers are usually too slow in clicking the screen, but it took him only ten seconds to reply.
Of course, I’m free later at 6 p.m. Let’s meet in the office.
Bob stood up, walked over to the door and said, “Ed, if Cardinal Tagle arrives later tonight, let him in as soon as possible.”
His secretary looked up, “But you don’t have a schedule with him.”
“We set one up,” he looked at his watch, “maybe a minute ago,” then went back inside.
His Holiness went straight to his record player and, for the hundredth time, played the record the cardinal gifted him. Starting it off with Symphony No. 40, swaying to the music all over his office.
Knock, knock.
“Your Holiness, he's here.”
Monsignor Ed was shocked, his boss never stood up so fast. The smile on his face was stretching his skin in a way that it reached his ears. “Let him in.”
“Holy Father.”
“Hm, I said Bob,” the older man crossed his arms but soon gestured for him to sit.
“I mean, Bob. Apologies,” he sat down, noting the vinyl record Bob walked towards to lift the needle for it to stop playing.
Sitting down, he asked, “So?”
“Yes.”
Bob’s eyes grew wide. “Yes? Yes? You’ll do it?” He barely held his urge to jump around the office. “I know it’s a big responsibility, Chito. But you’re the perfect one for it, believe me.”
He stood up, standing in front of Chito’s chair, making the other nervous. What am I supposed to do?
In return, he stood up too, when suddenly Bob encircled his arms around his shoulders. Chito was nailed in place, unaware of what to do, his heart almost leaped out of his chest.
After a second of contemplating, he returned the hug. Their bodies colliding, the black and white of their cassocks in one space, their breathing matched, their hearts face to face with each other, blood pumping at the same time.
“Thank you, really,” Bob said, still holding onto the man while caressing his back.
“I should be thanking you for this opportunity, Bob.”
The two broke apart, staring into each other's eyes. Bob leaned in, Chito stepped backward, afraid of where the tension would take them.
“Sorry, Bob, but I must go. I still have a schedule later at seven.”
Bob was brought back to reality, seeing Chito avoid his initiative scarred him. “Oh, well then. Hope to see you soon. Take care, Chito.”
“Thank you, Holy Father.” Chito grabbed his bag from the floor, his pace fast as he walked past the older man.
Chito almost bumped into Monsignor Ed as soon as he was out the door, not acknowledging the man as he went straight out, holding his chest, trying to calm his fast-beating heart.
What was that?
On the other hand, Bob was left alone inside, biting his lips so hard they almost bled. When he’d had enough of pacing back and forth in the office, he stood in front of his table, punching the hardwood with his fist.
Shit, I messed up.
—
It was Monday evening, His Holiness's time of weekly relaxation in Castel Gandolfo. He is standing outside, inhaling fresh cold air, staring at the pond in front of him. One with nature, he is.
“Ahem.”
He brushed his hands on his white cassock, shaking off some non-existent dust before slowly turning to that someone.
“What is i—” Surprise is an understatement when he saw who it was.
Chito.
“Sorry for bothering you, Holy Fat—”
“Bob.”
“—Bob, but this has been bothering my mind since we last met.”
The older man approached him. “Why? What is it? Tell me,” he said in his soft-spoken voice.
“I lo-love you…” Chito bowed down, unwilling to match the strength of Bob’s gaze. He didn’t want to see how the other reacted, if he was disappointed or, worse, disgusted by him.
“Chito, look at me.” He felt a calloused hand hold his cheeks, trying to lift his head up. “I do feel the same,” Bob muttered in hushed tones, trying to let the love in his words be felt through his voice.
The younger man didn’t realize it, but he was tearing up, so much for being sensitive.
Chito laughed, his tears swept away by the thumb on his face, the air around them filled with warmth, the beating of their hearts united as one.
Bob leaned forward, but this time, Chito did not step backwards, instead, he leaned forward. Their lips were brushing each other when they heard a rustle somewhere near the bushes. Chito caught sight of him, Monsignor Ed, seemingly searching for something. This made him push the older man out of the way just as the secretary saw them.
“Holy Father?”