Pia Wurtzbach’s Marian devotion wows Cardinal Tagle

MANILA — Having met reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach for the first time, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle could not help but be amazed by what he found outand she’s a staunch Marian devotee.Wurtzbach, a Catholic, paid a courtesy call to Tagle on Monday to turn over her donation to Caritas Manila earmarked for a scholarship program for the poorest of the poor.After the ceremony, the two also had an almost hour-long closed-door meeting, during which the beauty queen asked the cardinal for a rosary. The queen of the universe recognized Mary. A Miss Universe asked me, ‘Do you have a rosary?’ For me, it’s powerful, said the prelate.After the meeting, Wurtzbach, who wore an elegant white and blue gown and her Miss Universe sash, was seen wearing a rosary around her neck.It was Tagle’s personal rosary given to him by Pope Francis. She came out of the meeting not only wearing a Miss Universe sash but a rosary. What a change! he said.Wurtzbach said she always brings a rosary wherever she goes, especially on her trips abroad.Fr. Anton Pascual, Caritas Manila executive director, said Wurtzbach is also planning to visit HIV patients at the San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila and the street children in Baseco, Tondo. And I think the Miss Universe organizers are thinking about it seriously, he said.(Roy Lagarde/CBCPNews)