Pope Francis loves Filipino and Asian Catholics: Card Tagle
Manila, 25 June 2013: "Pope Francis has high hopes in the Catholic Church in the Philippines,
and asks all the faithful to pray for him," said Card Luis Antonio Tagle, archbishop
of Manila, on his return from Rome, where, on 15 June, he took possession of his titular
church, San Felice da Cantalice Parish Church, on the outskirts of the Italian capital.
Speaking at the at the 8th General Assembly of the Family Rosary
Crusade, held in Manila, the cardinal stressed Pope Francis's great love for Asia
and the Philippines, which along with East Timor is the only Asian country with a
Catholic majority.
"One of the first things Pope Francis said right after his
election as Pontiff, when we approached him individually, was: 'I have high hopes
for the Church in the Philippines'," Tagle noted. On that same occasion, he also encouraged
Filipinos to intensify their faith and deepen their devotion to the Blessed Virgin
Mary.
"For the Holy Father, advancing in faith is connected to our true devotion
to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which leads to the zeal in our mission," he added. The
cardinal explained that in his recent meeting with Pope Francis, the supreme pontiff
confirmed once again his trust in and high esteem for the Church and Filipino Catholics.
He
also urged people to remember him in their daily prayers, and support him in his mission
as pastor of the universal Church. "These words," the archbishop said, "show his great
faith and humility."Source: AsiaNews