PHL leaders join nation, Catholic faithful in welcoming new Pope

MANILA (PilipinasNews) – President Benigno S. Aquino III, along with the Filipino people, joined all the Catholic faithful in welcoming the new pope Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, and prayed that the holy pontiff will serve as a voice for peace, justice, and charity in a world threatened by tension and armed conflict, poverty, uncertainty, and loss of confidence in institutions.
Vice President Jejomar Binay also joined  the Catholic faithful and the Filipino nation in welcoming the election of Pope Francis as the Bishop of Rome and leader of the Catholic church.

”Just like his namesake, Pope Francis has shown affinity with the poor, both preaching and practicing compassion for our less fortunate brothers and sisters,” Binay said in a press statement.
”He reminds us that serving our fellowmen is a duty not only of the Church, but of all Catholics. As he begins his Papacy, we pray that he will lead the Church with wisdom, humility, compassion and grace,” Binay added.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines also welcomed the election of Pope Francis I.
CBCP president Archbishop Jose Palma said they are happy the conclave has chosen the successor of Pope Benedict XVI, who retired on Feb 28.
“We are very happy that we have a new Pope. Just like everyone, we accept the surprise that he is not a European,” he said.
With this, the Cebu prelate urged the faithful to follow and commit to the new Holy Father.
“Like all Christians, we are invited to give our full trust in him because he was one chosen by the Holy Spirit through the voting cardinals. Let us give our allegiance and be united with in whatever programs he wants to push,” he added.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued the statement following the election of Bergoglio as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The new pope has taken the name Francis and is the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years.
“The President, along with the Filipino people, joins all the Catholic faithful as they receive their new leader and meet his proclamation with a sense of boundless promise,” he said.
“As the first pope from outside Europe in a millennium—the first pope from the Society of Jesus, and the first from Latin America—the election of Pope Francis brings with it the promise of renewal in the Catholic Church, as it strives to fulfill its mission here on earth,” Lacierda said.
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle urged the faithful to thank God for his gift, Pope Francis, elected to the highest position in the Roman Catholic Church.
“Let us join the whole Church and the world in thanking God for His special gift in the extraordinary person of Pope Francis,” he said in a statement.
With this, he expressed gratitude to all those who prayed for the 115 cardinals that elected Pope Francis.
Tagle added that he was able to talk with the new Pontiff and assured the latter of the support of the Filipinos.
“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,’” he said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Province Society of Jesus is celebrating the election of the new pope.
“The PPSJ rejoices with the rest of the Church that our cardinals have so quickly been able to name a new Holy Father. They have chosen a man with long experience leading God’s people in Argentina, with a heart very much concerned for the needs of the poor and disadvantaged, and whose manner of life is touched by great simplicity and faith,” said Jose C.J. Magdia, S.J. in a statement.
He also expressed their support to the first Jesuit to be named as pope.
“We are grateful for his generosity and spirit of service to assume the heavy burden that goes with his office in these difficult times. We certainly pledge him our prayers and filial support, and wish him grace, wisdom and strength as he assumes this new mission,” Magdia added
The 76-year-old Pope Francis appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica just over an hour after white smoke poured from a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel to signal that 115 cardinal electors had chosen him to lead the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.
“We hope and pray that this will inaugurate a pontificate that will bear witness not only to the basic tenets of the Gospel, but will also serve as a voice for peace, justice, and charity in a world threatened by tension and armed conflict, poverty, uncertainty, and loss of confidence in institutions,” Lacierda noted.
“This is not merely a time for all Catholics to come together. This is a call for unity across nations—across ethnicities—to work with the new Catholic leadership towards shaping a world in which each and every human being is allowed to live a life of peace, joy, and dignity. Our administration is eager to work with the new Catholic leadership to achieve that end,” he stressed.
In congratulating Pope Francis, Lacierda said: “May God continue to grant you strength and wisdom as you lead the Catholic Church into its next chapter
Filipinos in Rome welcomed the election of the Catholic Church’s 266th Supreme Pontiff — Pope Francis (Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina), GMA News reported.
In an interview with “Unang Hirit” host Arnold Clavio, Father Greg Gaston, head of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome, said he expects the pope to be a true servant of the servants of God through his new role as the servant leader of the Catholic faith.
The 266th pontiff in the Church’s 2,000-year history, Francis became a priest at 32, nearly a decade after losing a lung due to respiratory illness and quitting his chemistry studies.
Francis was born into a family of seven, his father an Italian immigrant railway worker and his mother a housewife.
Pope Benedict resigned unexpectedly last month, after saying he was too frail to tackle the problems assailing the world’s largest organization, with an estimated 1.2 billion members.
According to the GMA News report posted on its website, Gaston recalled how the atmosphere at the Vatican was very festive, with people cheering loudly, after a white smoke appeared, signalling the election of a new pope.
“Napakasaya. Galing kami doon sa Vatican mismo sa Saint Peter’s,” Gaston said.
“Napakaraming tao sa saint Peter’s plaza sa harap lang ng basilica and then nag-ring na yung bells ng Saint Peter’s and then mamaya lumitaw na yung pope,” he continued.
Filipinos at the Vatican told “Unang Hirit’s” Ruth Cabal, that although they were personally rooting for Manila Cardinal Antonio Luis Tagle to become pope, they said that it might have been a blessing in disguise because the Philippines still needs him, the GMA News reported.
The Filipinos also said they believe Tagle, as a clergyman, was still young.
They also said they have accepted the election of Pope Francis because the result of the conclave of cardinals is the decision of God.
“Unang Hirit’s” Jiggy Manicad, on the other hand, described how the pope’s aura enveloped the massive Vatican crowd.
“Alam mo yung dating niya ang gaan. Parang tatay, parang lolo. Walang ka effort effort [o arte] na nagsalita. Walang dramatics, talagang very sincere at yung humility [niya] nag raradiate. Mararamdaman mo talaga yung humility niya,” Manicad said.
He added that although Pope Francis spoke in Spanish for his first message, this did not affect his appeal to the people with him appearing as someone who isn’t very formal with his being the new supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church.
“Maabot mo siya. Ganoon yung pakiramdam,” he said.
On the other hand, Jess Dela Fuente, a Filipino Vatican pilgrim who was present during the appointment of Pope Benedict XVI now Rome’s bishop emeritus said he was happy of Pope Francis’ appointment.
“Ako’y natutuwa at natapos na yung election ng papa dahil kailangang kailangan natin talaga,” Dela Fuente told Unang Hirit’s Pia Arcangel.
He believes that the new pope’s thrust will focus on the poor since he took the name of Saint Francis of Assisi who is known to be simple, meek and for the people.