New papal nuncio arrives in Manila

The new representative of Pope Benedict XVI to the Philippines arrived in Manila Friday morning. Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport aboard a Cathay Pacific CX-907 flight before 10 a.m., radio dzBB's Denver Trinidad reported. On hand to welcome him at the NAIA Dignitaries' Lounge were Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and outgoing Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines president and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar.

An article posted on the CBCP website earlier noted that Pinto's arrival comes at a time "when the Church’s image is challenged after some bishops accepted donations from a state-run lottery and became entangled in a corruption scandal." It was referring to the scandal involving vehicles donated by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to some bishops. Last May 10, Pope Benedict XVI named Pinto the apostolic nuncio to the Philippines following the departure of former envoy to the Philippines Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams last May 7. Adams was reassigned to Greece after serving almost three years in the Philippines. Pinto, who holds a doctorate in Canon Law and is fluent in Italian, French, English, and Spanish, was last assigned as papal nuncio to Chile. He will be the 15th Papal representative and the 10th Apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, the CBCP said. Other past diplomatic assignments included Papua New Guinea, and Argentina, and he had served in the Vatican City state secretariat. — RSJ, GMA News