Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, one of the contenders for the papacy, has assured nwely-elected Pope Francis of support from Filipino Catholics.
“When I approached Pope Francis to assure him of the closeness and collaboration of the Filipinos, he said, ‘I have high hopes for the Philippines. May your faith prosper, as well as your devotion to Our Lady and mission to the poor’,” Tagle said in a Sun Star Online report.
An estimated 80 million of 100 million Filipinos identify themselves as Catholic, and many pinned their hopes on Tagle being elected the first pope from Asia. “I thank you for your fervent prayers for the cardinal electors. We never felt alone even for a moment. Your love sustained us,” Tagle said.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has also welcomed the election of Buenos Aires Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who chose the name Pope Francis. Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, president of the CBCP, said the new Pope showed his closeness to the people when he asked that people gathered in Rome pray for him before he blessed them.
“He is the pope of the people,” Palma said.
