Tito Sotto hopes new pope follows footsteps of predecessor
This handout picture released on May 8, 2025 by Peruvian news agency Andina shows the then bishop Robert Francis Prevost during a visit to Chulucanas, Peru, in 2024. Prevost was elected Pope on May 8, 2025. The US-born pontiff close to Pope Francis became a Peruvian national in 2015 and devoted more than 20 years as a missionary in Peru. (Photo by Paul SUNCION / ANDINA / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / ANDINA – PAUL SUNCION ” – NO MARKETING – NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
MANILA, Philippines — Former Senate president Vicente “Tito” Sotto III hopes newly elected Pope Leo XIV will follow the footsteps of his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, as the latter turned the Roman Catholic Church into a more inclusive institution.
On Friday, Sotto and other Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas candidates were asked if they had any prayers that they wanted Leo XIV to make for the Philippines, or if they had any hopes from the new pontiff.
In response, Sotto said he hopes Leo XIV will have the same mindset as Francis.
“Sa akin po una sa lahat, panalangin ko sana ay si Pope Leo XIV, o si Cardinal Prevost ay maging pareho ng pananaw ni Pope Francis, maganda ‘yong naging perspective niya at maganda rin ‘yong pagbukas ng kaisipan sa kabuuan ng simbahang katolika,” Sotto said.
(First of all, I pray that Pope Leo XIV, or Cardinal Prevost, will have the same perspective as Pope Francis, because the late pope’s perspective has been good and his initiative of opening the Catholic Church’s mindset fared well.)
“Sa atin naman sana maging matagumpay pa rin at magpatuloy ang relasyon ng Pilipinas sa Vatican sapagkat nando’n naman sila Cardinal Tagle, maganda ‘yong ating relasyon,” he added.
(So, we hope that we will maintain strong ties between the Philippines and the Vatican as Cardinal Tagle is there; we have good relations with them.)
Lacson, meanwhile, hopes that Leo XIV can be an instrument for peace around the world.
“Bago ang panalangin sa Pilipinas ay panalangin muna sa buong mundo, na sana matigil na ‘yong mga nangyayaring karahasan, ‘yong giyera sa Ukraine. Kasi after all kung ano man ang kaguluhan sa mundo, apektado rin ang Pilipinas,” Lacson said.
(Before our prayer for the Philippines we also want to pray for the entire country, that I hope he will be instrumental in stopping ongoing conflicts, like the war in Ukraine. Because conflicts across the country will also affect the Philippines.)
“Kaya dapat manalangin tayo na sana maging instrumento si Pope Leo XIV para maresolba na lahat na conflicts lahat ng mga pag-aaway at karahasan na nangyayari sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo,” he added.
(That’s why we should pray that Pope Leo XIV be an instrument in resolving all the conflicts, all the disputes, and violent incidents happening in many parts of the world.)
Sotto and Lacson also asked that the Philippines be included in Leo XIV’s prayers as the country will hold its midterm elections on Monday, May 12.
“Ang panalangin ko ay sana maipanalangin din nila tayo na maging matahimik ang eleksyon, maging matahimik ang bansa, bumiti ang sitwasyon natin sa ekonomiya man, sa peace and order, at sa kalagayan natin sa mundo. Lalo na sa kalagayan ng ating mga pag-aari na pinakikialaman ng kung sino-sino,” Sotto said.
(My prayer is that he can be able to pray for us also that we have peaceful elections, that the country will remain peaceful, our economic situation becomes better, and with the affairs of the world. Especially with the state of our territories which are being affected by foreign intrusion.)
“Sa Pilipinas, pareho ng panalangin ni Tito Sen na sana unang-una kasi nalalapit na ‘yong halalan, maging matahimik, walang karahasan, wala na sanang mamamatay, makitil ang buhay hanggang sa dumating ‘yong Lunes na ang araw ng eleksyon,” Lacson added.
(For the Philippines, I have the same prayer as Tito Sen, first because our elections are near, that it will be peaceful, not violent, with no one dying due to the elections that will happen on Monday.)
Leo XIV, American-born Robert Francis Prevost, was elected by the college of cardinals as the 267th pope early Friday morning (Manila time). This means Leo XIV is the first pope from the United States.
READ: Robert Francis Prevost of US is new pope, takes name Leo XIV
The new pope will try to fill in the massive shoes left by Pope Francis, a reformer who implemented a policy of mercy over dogma.
After Francis died, many Filipinos remembered the late pontiff for being with Filipinos during one of their lowest points, after Super Typhoon Yolanda barreled through the Philippines in 2013.
But aside from what happened during the papal visit to Leyte and Manila, Filipinos also remembered Francis for ushering change in a Church riddled by controversies, a hardline stance on conservatism, and allegations of indifference for the poor and marginalized.
People from all over the globe have thanked Francis for being kind, and for opening the church to people from diverse backgrounds, regardless of age, sexual orientation, financial status, religion, and history.
On Facebook, different clips and quote cards of Francis giving blunt but practical and wise answers to questions, especially on hard-pressing issues, have resurfaced. At one point, Francis was asked by journalists aboard his plane about “Islamic violence”, after a priest in France was killed in an attack claimed by Isis, an extremist organization considered as a terrorist organization by many states.
Francis gave a sharp response, noting that if he were to talk about Islamic violence, he would also discuss Catholic violence as he saw news stories about people in Italy — baptized as Catholics — committing grave crimes against their relatives.
READ: Pope: Islam is not terrorism
Francis also received praise for having a more tolerated stance on members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community, saying several times that he is not to judge if a person is good or bad.
The leader of the Catholic church also backed same-sex civil unions, noting that priests being scandalized when he gives blessings to members of the LGBTQ community are hypocrites because they are mum on blessings given to greedy businesspeople. /jpv
