Manila, May 9 -- Senate candidates under the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas coalition asked for prayers for the country and the world on Friday as they welcomed the election of United States-born Robert Francis Prevost, who will assume the name Pope Leo XIV as the 267th head of the Roman Catholic Church.

During their press conference in Mandaluyong City prior to the miting de avance, former Senate president Vicente Sotto III expressed hope that the new pope would continue the inclusive and open-minded approach of his predecessor, the late Pope Francis.

"Sana ay ma-ipanalangin din nila tayo na maging matahimik ang eleksyon, bumuti ang sitwasyon sa ekonomiya, peace and order, at ang kalagayan natin sa mundo lalo na sa mga pag-aari natin...