Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, the country’s new papal nuncio, was urged today to look into alleged human rights abuses in the country. The call came as the Italian prelate arrived in Manila from Chile earlier today to take up his new post following his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on May 10. Bishop Nereo Odchimar, president of the Catholic bishops’ conference and Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales of Manila led officials in welcoming Archbishop Pinto at the airport. Salvador France, leader of the fishermen’s group Pamalakaya, immediately called on the nuncio to address the current human rights situation in the country and for Church leaders to properly brief him on the matter. Human rights groups say 48 people were victims of extrajudicial killings from July 2010 to June 2011. The government, however, says it is committed to upholding human rights and many cases cited by rights groups are in fact local issues which should be considered police matters. Archbishop Pinto replaces Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams who was posted to Greece. Archbishop Pinto holds a doctorate in Canon Law and is fluent in Italian, French, English and Spanish.