MANILA — The influential Catholic church in the Philippines said Monday it had asked boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao to follow in the footsteps of NFL hero Tim Tebow and become a "bible ambassador".

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who presides over the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines' (CBCP) bible ministry, said church leaders had approached Pacquiao with the idea, but received no feedback from the 32-year-old fighter.

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He said Pacquiao could follow the example of the Philippine-born National Football League star Tebow, a devout Christian dubbed by some in the press as "God's quarterback."

"Tim Tebow became very popular by promoting the word of God," David said. "Some have referred to Manny Pacquiao as the Tim Tebow of the Philippines."