CBCP: New pope is very spiritual and 'hinog na hinog'

As it welcomed the ascension of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio to the papacy as Pope Francis, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines media director Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III said Pope Francis is a "very spiritual" person who is "hinog na hinog" or very ripe for the job.
 
"Unang gagawin namin, we will pray for the Holy Father," Quitorio said in an interview on dzBB radio.

He also said the Holy Spirit had guided the cardinals - including Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle - in their selection of a new pope.

Many Filipinos had hoped Tagle would be chosen as the successor to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who stepped down last March 1 (Manila time).

"Talagang noon pa man talagang lalahok ang Espiritu Santo sa pagpili. Marami sa atin iba ang nasa isip pero lumabas ang inaasahan natin," Quitorio said.

He also said Pope Francis has been a vocal advocate on social issues.

The Vatican news site said Pope Francis is the 265th successor to Saint Peter.

Cardinal Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was born on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires. — DVM, GMA News