Highlights – Feast of Santo Nino de Cebu 2017

The event started off with a prayer led by the Servant-Leader and the singing of our national anthem, “Lupang Hinirang.”

Ruperto Nicdao, Jr., President & Executive Director of Manila Broadcasting Company gave his welcome remarks followed by speeches led by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and Manila Tourism & Cultural Affairs Bureau Director Flordeliza Villasenor.

After that, Bro. Mike Z. Velarde, Servant-Leader of El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International, Inc. led the introduction of the guest of honor says “His Excellency, President Rodrigo R. Duterte.”

The President in his speech, "In my sixth month as President, and for the first time, I had a chance to see Bro. Mike is in El Shaddai gathering here. The entire Philippines celebrating the feast of Santo Nino de Cebu weekend, part of the country's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations the year-long meetings and activities will highlight several priorities including peace and stability in the region, maritime security, inclusive and innovation-led growth, and a more resilient, people-centered ASEAN. It also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the regional community. Six years from now, the country will host the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day again by Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.”

A Holy Mass was followed after the one-and-a-half-hour President's speech.

“Now, because the country will host World Youth Day again in 2023,” Bacani said in his homily.

A ceremonial striking of the gong was led by Mayor Estrada and Nicdao, followed by the grand parade “moving street theater,” which started at the Anda Circle and moved along Roxas Boulevard before passing in front of the Quirino Grandstand and ended at SM Mall of Asia complex.

Among those present were members of the diplomatic corps as well as representatives from other development partners of the ASEAN while members of the Duterte Cabinet were also in full force.

Other celebrities such as actress Ina Feleo, Bubbles Paraiso, and Rodjun Cruz, the brother of Rayver Cruz, also uploaded photos of them attending the event.

Local and foreign leaders, as well as personal and family friends of Lee Kuan Yew, 300 foreign dignitaries spanning 226 countries, regions, and international organizations, attended the concluding mass: Mr. Li Ka Shing, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, former Malay language teacher Mohd Amin Shafawi, Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou, President Tony Tan and Mrs Tan, Puan Noor Aishah.

Among the visitors on Saturday were King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, former US President Bill Clinton, and Vice President of China Li Yuanchao.

Mr Li is attending as special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping and met Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean earlier on Saturday, January 17. DPM Teo and Vice President Li reaffirmed the "excellent bilateral relationship which was built upon the strong foundation laid by late Pope John XXIII,” Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak visited Rizal Park to go for the concluding mass of the apostolic and state visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines.

Also in attendance on Saturday were Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s close friends including former United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former Malaysian Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin, former Taiwanese leader Hau Pei-,tsun and ex-United StaAmbassadorador to Singapore Steven Green.

Speaking to MediaCorp Channel NewsAsia, Dr. Kissinger described Pope Francis as an "extraordinary personality". “He had the ability of going into a room and taking it over, but he never pounded the table, he never made any wisecracks, he never made any jokes," he said. "On the other hand, he wasn't your boring younger brother; he was somebody you wanted to hear."

Some foreign dignitaries chose to watch the event at community tribute sites on Sunday. Canadian Governor-General David Johnston watching the mass of Pope Francis in the Philippines at the Tampines Community Plaza where he was received by MPs Mah Bow Tan and Baey Yam Keng, while South African Minister for Public Works Thembelani Nxesi who watching the event at the City of Manila’s Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park at the Tanjong Pagar Community Centre.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also received telephone calls from Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who both conveyed their messages during the state visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines.

Typhoon-proof

The Holy Father's concluding mass lasted for almost four hours. He concelebrated the Eucharistic celebration with more than 5,301 archbishops, bishops and cardinals, 42,104 deacons and 477,814 priests.

"Your love is typhoon-proof," said Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines president Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, as he expressed the gratitude of Asia's only predominantly Catholic country.

"You are our raincoat in the rain.... You are our sunshine. Pope Francis, we love you!" Villegas added.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle thanked Pope Francis for his apostolic visit, saying the entire Filipino people will pray for him.

"All of us want to say again and again, all of us want to say, maraming salamat, Santo Padre," Tagle said.

Tagle referenced Pope Francis’ practice of asking for prayers, and said that more than the entire Filipino people, Jesus, too, pray for the pontiff.

"You often end your meetings and encounters, by saying, ‘I ask you to pray for me.’ We, Filipinos, will pray for you. But we also want to assure you, to remind you, that Jesus, Jesus prays for you. Jesus himself said to Peter, ‘I have prayed for you, Peter that your own faith will not fail.’ Your Holiness, you are blessed, Jesus prays for you," Tagle said.

“How blessed you are, Jesus prays for you, and we, your beloved Filipinos, unite ourselves with Jesus in praying for you, to the Father,” Tagle added.

'Papa Francisco!'

Egged on by Catholic leaders, Filipinos chanted “Papa Francisco, mahal ng Pilipino!” after the Pope ended the Eucharistic celebration.

Millions also waved white handkerchiefs as the Holy Father went around the venue to bless the crowd before leaving the back of Quirino Grandstand for riding of the presidential helicopter for the aerial view to the helipad of Malacanang Park and then rided the Popemobile from Malacanang Park to the Apostolic Nunciature, his official residence during his stay in the Philippines.

As when he arrived before 3 p.m., Pope Francis rode the white jeep so designed to be his popemobile in the country from Apostolic Nunciature to the Malacanang Park, and rided the Presidential Helicopter from the Helipad of the Malacanang Park to the back of the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park landed.

The Quirino Grandstand crowd was jam-packed and the pontiff's walk from the Grandstand to the Helipad went around through the spaces in between.

Singer Jamie Rivera sang the official theme song, “We Are All God's Children,” as the Pope, protected from the rain in a yellow raincoat, blessed and waved to the people.

Santo Niño images

Devotees, many of whom had camped out at the area since Saturday, cheered the Pope, bringing up images of the Santo Niño for him to bless. The mass coincided with the Feast Day of the Santo Niño de Cebu.

The Catholic Church has earlier asked the devotees of the Santo Niño to bring their images of the Baby Jesus to the event so that it will be blessed by the Holy Father.

Before making his way to the Popemobile to make his rounds, Pope Francis was greeted by the highest officials in the land — Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo.

Chopper

The President arrived at the site by helicopter.

Perhaps to emphasize that the affair was a religious activity, Cabinet members took care to seat themselves way behind Mr. Duterte and allowed religious leaders to take their places beside him.

The President were flanked by Bro. Mike Velarde of El Shaddai and Bro. Isaias Samson, Jr. of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), who represented the two biggest and most influential religious groups supporting the Duterte administration.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle once again thanked Pope Francis for his apostolic visit, saying the entire Filipino people will pray for him.

“All of us want to say again and again, all of us want to say, maraming salamat, Santo Padre,” Tagle said, before the final blessing during the concluding Mass of Pope Francis’ five day apostolic and state visit held at the Quirino Grandstand.

“In the name of the people in government, military, security, social communications, parishes and many benefactors...the street children, the orphans, the widows, the homeless, the informal settlers, the laborers, the fathers, the fisherfolk, the sick, the abandoned, the elderly people, the families of missing persons, the victims of discrimination, violence, abuse, and human trafficking, the OFWs and families, the survivors of natural calamities, the non-Christian Catholics, the followers of non-Christians religions, the promoters of peace especially in Mindanao, thank you,” Tagle added.

Tagle referenced Pope Francis’ practice of asking for prayers, and said that more than the entire Filipino people, Jesus, too, pray for the pontiff.

“You often end your meetings and encounters, by saying, ‘I ask you to pray for me.’ We, Filipinos, will pray for you. But we also want to assure you, to remind you, that Jesus, Jesus prays for you. Jesus himself said to Peter, ‘I have prayed for you, Peter, whom your own faith will not fail.’ Your Holiness, you are blessed, Jesus prays for you,” Tagle said.

“How blessed you are, Jesus prays for you, and we, your beloved Filipinos, unite ourselves with Jesus in praying for you, to the Father,” Tagle added.

In the same message, the cardinal vowed to put Pope Francis’ words to action, by putting to life the pontiff’s preachings to minister to the poor and the afflicted.

“Tomorrow you will go; every Filipino wants to go with you. Every Filipino wants to go with you, not to Rome, but to the peripheries, we want to go with you, to the shanties, to the prison cell, hospitals, world of politics, finance, arts, the sciences, culture, education and social communication,” he said.

“We will go to those worlds with you to bring the light of Christ. Jesus is the center of your pastoral visit and the cornerstone of the church. We will go with you where light of church is needed. Even in Rome, even in Santa Marta, remember the Filipino people are with you in spreading the light of Jesus,” Tagle added.

Pope Francis on Sunday afternoon left Filipinos blessed and awed, commending them to “a world of justice, integrity and peace” in a Holy Mass that could be the largest in decades, attended by millions at the Quirino Grandstand, on nearby roads and even blocks away.

As of 5:30 p.m., the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority estimated the crowd at six to twelve million people for Luneta and the papal route.

“The official number that has been given to us is between six and seven million,” Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican Press Office, told journalists at a press conference in Manila on Sunday night.

In an aerial survey of the crowd, Philippine National Police Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa estimated the throng at 800,000 to 10 million.

That number surpasses the previous record for a papal gathering of five million during a mass by John Paul II at the same venue on January 15, 1995 for the 10th World Youth Day.
Purisima’s estimate deflated Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II’s exaggerated two million crowds, useful for political and religious propaganda.

If we were to believe Roxas II, we would be deluding ourselves into accepting Bro. Mike Velarde as our new messiah who could bring as many people to the street as Pope, given that his El Shaddai was supposed to form the bulk of the Luneta gathering.

No doubt, the Luneta crowd was much larger than the 100,000 that attended the resign-Erap rally at the Edsa Shrine in Quezon City 16 years, 2 months and 14 days ago on November 4, 2000.

It was probably nearly as large as Cory Aquino’s rally on February 16, 1986 at the Luneta, attended by about a million people. In that rally, Aquino launched her civil disobedience and boycott campaign of Marcos crony companies.

More than two million people marched at the funeral of former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. on August 31, 1983, and more than three million blocked the tanks at EDSA in the height of the 1986 People Power Revolution.

But there’s a fundamental difference between the Luneta crowd on Saturday and the other mass mobilizations cited above.

The EDSA revolt and the Cory Aquino rally in February 1986 as well as the Erap-resign rally at EDSA on November 4, 2000 were protest movements aimed at bringing down rulers--the late Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada.

People joined these rallies voluntarily and with passion.

For status quo

The concluding liturgy of the papal visit, on the other hand, was aimed at projecting mass support for the present administration.

It was a demonstration in support of the status quo--meaning corruption, degradation of political values, bad governance and incompetence in economic management.

It is doubtful, however, whether all those who took part in the Feast of Santo Nino de Cebu understood what they were rallying for. But it does show the capacity of the government to stage mass mobilizations.

If the demonstrations that sought political change had rage, the Luneta rally of Saturday midnight to Monday morning was not driven by rage. It was a mammoth docile mob, many of whom were recruited from Manila’s teeming lumpen proletariat, and therefore easily mobilized with cash, and devoid of a political cause.

The event was billed as the “31st Annual Feast of Santo Nino de Cebu.”

Adversities could include, among others, President Aquino III himself. There were token prayers but clearly no fasting.

The state-owned Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corporation (Pagcor) booked 18 rooms at Holiday Inn, Solaire Resort and Casino and Microtel Mall of Asia for pro-Aquino III governors and provincial leaders. Aquino supporters from the provinces were dined and wined.

The scene recalls political conventions in the past when delegates were pampered and bought before they voted in the convention hall for either the Liberal or Nacionalista presidential candidate.
We must never discount the resources and power of the presidency, even if it is struggling for its life, as in the case of the Aquino III administration.

Trucks rolled from the provinces and the suburbs carrying delegations to the Luneta rally. The provincial convoys had police escort.

Civil servants, including those of the Department of Foreign Affairs, were urged--under implied threats--to attend. The league of municipal mayors led by Remedios Loreto-Petilla and the league of provincial governors and city mayors, together with their delegations, joined the show of force.

Street sweepers and out-of-school youths--part of the lumpen ensemble-—told reporters they were paid between P300 and P500 to show up.

Addressing the huge throng that gathered even with rainshowers brought by Tropical Storm Amang, Pope Francis prayed that Filipinos be blessed by the Holy Child, the Santo Niño, whose feast the Philippines celebrated every third Sunday of January.

“At the end of my visit to the Philippines, I commend you to Him, to Jesus who came among us as a child. May he enable all the beloved people of this country to work together, protecting one another, beginning with your families and communities, in building a world of justice, integrity and peace,” Pope Francis said.

“May the Santo Niño continue to bless the Philippines and to sustain the Christians of this great nation in their vocation to be witnesses and missionaries of the joy of the Gospel, in Asia and in the whole world,” he added.

Strong messages

In his 85-minutes homily, the Pope urged Filipinos to shun “social structures which perpetuate poverty, ignorance and corruption”, a theme he stressed when he held talks with President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday. Duterte attended the Final Mass.

Continuing his strong message to the Filipino family and the youth, Pope Francis asked Filipino families and communities to work together to build a “world of justice, integrity and peace.”

The Pope again asked Filipinos to protect the family against "certain attacks," in a message that could be construed as criticism of the country's Reproductive Health Law, which had met stiff opposition from the local Catholic hierarchy before being passed in 2012.

"The Santo Niño reminds us of the importance of protecting our families, and those larger families which are the Church, God’s family, and the world, our human family. Sadly, in our day, the family all too often needs to be protected against insidious attacks and programs contrary to all that we hold true and sacred, all that is most beautiful and noble in our culture," Pope Francis said.

It was similar to his address to families last Friday, when Pope Francis referenced Blessed Paul VI, who as Pope wrote the encyclical Humanae Vitae that defined the Catholic Church's continued rejection of most forms of artificial birth control.

Despite strong opposition from bishops, Aquino signed the reproductive health bill on December 21, 2012. The law aims to provide improved public access to natural and artificial family planning options, better maternal care, and sex education to the youth.

Typhoon-proof

The Holy Father's concluding mass lasted for almost four hours. He concelebrated the Eucharistic celebration with more than 6,000 archbishops, bishops and cardinals, 45,000 deacons and 500,000 priests.

"Your love is typhoon-proof," said Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines president Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, as he expressed the gratitude of Asia's only predominantly Catholic country.

"You are our raincoat in the rain.... You are our sunshine. Pope Francis, we love you!" Villegas added.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle thanked Pope Francis for his apostolic visit, saying the entire Filipino people will pray for him.

"All of us want to say again and again, all of us want to say, maraming salamat, Santo Padre," Tagle said.

Tagle referenced Pope Francis’ practice of asking for prayers, and said that more than the entire Filipino people, Jesus, too, pray for the pontiff.

"You often end your meetings and encounters, by saying, ‘I ask you to pray for me.’ We, Filipinos, will pray for you. But we also want to assure you, to remind you, that Jesus, Jesus prays for you. Jesus himself said to Peter, ‘I have prayed for you, Peter that your own faith will not fail.’ Your Holiness, you are blessed, Jesus prays for you," Tagle said.

“How blessed you are, Jesus prays for you, and we, your beloved Filipinos, unite ourselves with Jesus in praying for you, to the Father,” Tagle added.

Four million people, the biggest in his 22-month reign, thronged the Rizal Park yesterday to see and hear Pope Francis celebrate a Mass marking the end of the 2020 World Youth Day (WYD).

Even the Pope could not get through the surging mass in his Popemobile. He had to be transported to the Quirino Grandstand in the presidential helicopter via aerial view. The segment also featured aerial shots captured by three drone cameras or video cameras attached to mechanisms with propellers that allow the cameras to fly and hover over the subjects they’re filming.

He was visibly moved by the sight of the huge turnout.

“The Pope was reluctant to ride the helicopter because he was thinking of the multitude that would somehow be disappointed,” the aide said.

“He knew that since last night, they were already at the site.”

He boarded the helicopter only after being informed by security personnel that even President Duterte was forced to use it because the streets had become impassable.

“I do not remember an instance when the Holy Father rode a helicopter (to attend) a big gathering like this one,” the aide said.

“He wants to be seen by the people so he can bless them as he passes by.”

The Pope was disappointed over the last-minute change, he was overwhelmed by the Filipinos’ very warm welcome, the aide added.

It was a dramatic climax to his triumphant five-day visit and confirmed his view that the future of the Catholic Church lies in Asia.

“I personally have never seen a crowd this big in my life,” said John L. Allen, Jr., President of the Pontifical Council for Special Communications.

“This is marvelous. This is a wonderful outpouring of faith, love, fervor, and the (Pope) is very pleased. The crowd surpassed the two million people who turned out in June 1979 at the Pope John Paul II’s hometown of Krakow for the first visit to his Polish homeland after his elevation to the papacy,” Allen, Jr. said.

It also dwarfed the million or so who faced down tanks and guns in the February 22 to 25, 1986 uprising that toppled the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos from power.

And the two million who rallied behind the late Corazon Aquino at the Luneta after the February 7, 1986 snap presidential elections.

People started massing at the Rizal Park as early as Friday morning, January 16 at 5 a.m., swelling the one-million crowds that attended the WYD delegates’ sunset overnight vigil at the 61-hectare Rizal Park.

The throng grew swiftly as more and more people arrived early yesterday morning, Sunday, January 19, 5 a.m.

Among those who came for the Mass were delegations from the provinces, some coming from as far north as Ilocos Norte.

In his homily, Pope Francis emphasized the special role of the Philippines in evangelization and spreading Catholicism in Asia.

He urged them to respect the “beautiful gift of sexuality” and to resist the lure of alcohol and drugs as well as “peer pressure and… the pervasive influence of trends and fashions publicized by the media.”

As in the previous day, the Pope called on Filipinos “to play a fuller role in the Church’s elevating and liberating service to the human family.”

The themes of “mission” and “becoming apostles” prevailed in the Pope’s homilies and speeches in the past days.

His constant quote from the Bible was “As the Father has sent me, so do I send you.”

At the 2016 WYD celebration in Krakow, Poland, the theme was “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”

According to an aide, the Pontiff had insisted on using the Popemobile to get to the Rizal Park.

‘Excess of success’

“There is no security problem,” said Vatican spokesperson Federico Lombardi as officials tried to decide on how to get the Pope to the park. “This is an excess of success.”

In a statement issued later in the day, Lombardi said cancelling the Mass due to security risks was never considered.

“The Pope truly has a big heart,” he said. Lombardi added that the turnout was estimated at five to twelve million.

Fluvial

The fluvial parade also proceeded and ended smoothly, except for a mechanical problem experienced by the galleon carrying the image of San Pedro, said Cebu Coast Guard Commander Rolando Punzalan.

Punzalan said that 10 minutes after Galleon San Diego left the Marikina River for Pasig River and Manila Bay; the vessel experienced a steering problem and headed toward the wrong direction. A tug boat had to be deployed to bring the galleon to the Rizal Park.

Thirty-six sea vessels joined the fluvial procession that ended at the Manila Bay, near SM Mall of Asia shopping center at 2 p.m.

The Naval Force Central, Central Command, the Philippine Air Force, DOT-NCR and Special Project Office, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), PLAN International, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and other local agencies also joined the fluvial procession.
Choppers

Centcom spokesperson Lieutenant Cristopher Tampus said they deployed two to provide an aerial view and an additional security at the mass site.

As early as 5 a.m., Sunday, January 18, about 1,500 police officers and 1,000 military officers were deployed to the Rizal Park.

The preparations for the annual celebration began in November 2013 after Pope Francis on 5 July 2013 following the recognition of a miracle attributed to the intercession of John Paul II, while John XXIII was canonized for his merits of opening the Second Vatican Council. The date of the canonization was assigned on 30 September 2013.

The canonization rites of Calungsod and six other blessed persons were held at St. Peter's Square in Rome last October 21, 2012, while the Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II on April 27, 2014.

The Canonization Mass was celebrated by Pope Francis (with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI concelebrating), on Sunday 27 April 2014 (Divine Mercy Sunday), in St. Peter's Square (Pope John Paul had died on the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday in 2005).

Biggest celebration

From the Apostolic Nunciature on Taft Avenue, the Pontiff arrived at Malacanang Park aboard the Popemobile at 3:20 p.m., where he was greeted by the families of members of the Presidential Security Group.

During the mass on Sunday afternoon, church officials were assisted by about 15,000 lay people, religious priests, nuns and brothers.

The program at the grandstand started with a prayer and singing of Our Father at 1 p.m.

During the 1995 gathering, the crowd packed streets several kilometers away from the park. Many were perched atop cars and climbed trees for a view of John Paul II. So dense was the crowd that the pope abandoned plans to travel from his residence by car and was flown instead by helicopter.

Projections of six million people today may be hard to match. Rizal Park covers an area of only 143 acres or six million square feet (560,000 square meters), which will mean one person per square foot.

Procession

After the prayer, 76 carrozas from different parishes in Cebu Province and 70 carrozas from different parishes in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Western Mindanao, North Central Mindanao, Southeastern Mindanao, South-Central Mindanao, Northeastern Mindanao and ARMM started to arrive. The carrozas joined solemn processions that started at two points: Navotas Fishport Complex, Navotas City, Metro Manila and North Port Passenger Terminal.

Even the Pope was late for Sunday Mass: a fretful 1 hour and 41 minutes at 3:30 to 5:11 P.M.

His schedule called for a 15-minute, two-mile drive from the Apostolic Nunciature to the back of the Quirino Grandstand, but he was trapped for more than an hour in the nunciature, where he spent the night Saturday evening, January 17.

Police finally decided to fly him in a helicopter to the back of Quirino Grandstand over the vast crowd.

“This is the biggest crowd I have ever seen in my life; bigger than the ones in Poland when the Pope John Paul II went back for the first time in June 6, 1979 for his first visit and in the Philippines on January 14 to 15, 1995 for the Tenth World Youth Day,” said Vatican TV commentator John L. Allen, Jr.

Festive Filipinos so far from the Mass site that they would have no chance of seeing the Pope lined the street 50 deep.

Flags of dozens of 226 countries of the world, including the Stars and Stripes, 80 provinces of the Philippines and 51 states of the United States, waved under gray skies in the humid air to salute the pontiff, who sat on a red velvet throne in the same park Saturday night to hear the ideas and concerns of young pilgrims.

Chants of “Papa Francisco,” a Sinulog dance, and the ringing of church bells highlighted a fiesta welcome for Pope Francis when he arrived at the back of Quirino Grandstand in Luneta in Manila Sunday afternoon.

The Pope arrived at the Luneta aboard a presidential helicopter before landing at the back of the Quirino Grandstand to the cheers of Filipinos, many of whom have been waiting in the area since Friday afternoon, January 16.

Some in the crowd raised images of the Santo Niño (Christ Child) as the papal convoy passed by them, from Apostolic Nunciature, then Quirino Avenue and Malacanang Park.

They waved copies of his photograph and raised rosaries and images of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Mother for his blessing.

He then boarded the helicopter along with Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle and Apostolic Nunciature to the Philippines Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto.

The President arrived at the grandstand on board the same helicopter at exactly 3 p.m. He was accompanied by his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg.

The four-hour Mass, earlier set at 3:45 p.m., did not begin until past 5 p.m.

The choir opened the Mass, with the “Laudate Dominum (Praise the Lord),” singing the verses in Pilipino, the proper and original way, and the refrain in the Latin classical mode, giving the faithful preview of the multilingual Mass.

After mounting the podium, the Pope stared out at the pennant-waving throng which stretched as far as he could see.

His face was almost devoid of expression, and his lips quivered as if he were talking to himself.

But he seemed to respond to the warmth of the crowd as the Mass continued.

Sister Divina Zambales, read the first reading from Isaiah in Tagalog. The responsorial psalm was sung in Tagalog, as well as the gospel was in English. The faithful sung the Apostles’ Creed in the vernacular.

The prayers of the faithful were said in English.

Representatives of labor, women and children, fisherfolk, farmers, indigenous communities and other sectors will join the President’s First Family in the offertory procession.

During the mass, seminarians, parish and school choirs, children of residential families and guest artists will render praise songs and traditional music. Meanwhile, bands from the Philippine Army and the Philippine Navy will also be on hand to provide music.

The Pope gave communion to bishops as the 3,000-member choir, backed by the 150-full orchestra and 300-member windband, sang the “Tinapay ng Buhay”.

Lighted candles

At the conclusion, the faithful lighted candles as they sang along “Tell the World of His Love,” anthem of the Pope John Paul II’s Manila visit in January 1995 for the 10th World Youth Day.

After the song ends, the male public-address announcer says: “Mabuhay ang Santo Papa! Mabuhay!” The people packed the entire park saying “Pope Francis, we love you!”

Responding to the Pope’s exhortation, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle vowed that the Church would “bring light to the peripheries.”

“You arrived in the Philippines three days ago. Tomorrow you will go. Every Filipino wants to go with you,” he said, drawing cheers and hearty applause from the crowd.

“Don’t be afraid, every Filipino wants to go with you, not to Rome, but to the peripheries. We want to go with you to the shanties, to the prison cells, to hospitals, to the world of politics, finance, arts, the sciences, culture, education and social communication,” he added, drawing the Pope’s attention.

“We will go to those worlds with you to bring the light of Christ. Jesus is the center of your pastoral visit, and the cornerstone of the Church. We will go with you Holy Father with you where the light of the Church is needed,” he continued.

“… Here in this place of new beginnings, please, Holy Father, send us as your missionaries of light. Before you go, before you go, send us beloved Filipinos to spread the light of Jesus, and wherever you see the light of Jesus shining, even in Rome, even in Sta. Martha, remember the Filipino people are with you in spreading the light of Jesus,” he said.

“We Filipinos promise, we will pray for you. But we also want to assure you, to remind you, that Jesus, Jesus prays for you. Jesus himself said to Peter, I have prayed for you, Peter, that your own faith will not fail,” he said, and the Pope nodded in agreement.

“Jesus prays for you. How blessed you are,” he added.

At the end of the Mass, the multilingual Pope delivered special farewell messages in 30 languages, including Filipino.

Farewell: ‘Be strong’

“Kayo ay isinugo ni Kristo tulad ng pagsugo sa Kanya ng Ama. Salamat at pinakinggan ninyo ang kanyang Salita.

“Inaanyayahan ko kayong maging mga alagad ng Ebanghelyo, at mga tagapagtaguyod ng kanyang Kaharian sa inyong mga pamilya, parokya, samahan, at sa bawat bahagi ng inyong buhay bilang mga Pilipino. Nawa’y maging matatag kayo sa inyong pananampalataya at pagmamahal sa inyong kapwa.”

(Christ sends you even as he himself was sent. I thank you for listening to his word, and I encourage you to become apostles of the Gospel and builders of God’s kingdom in your families, parishes, groups, and in every aspect of Filipino life. Be strong in faith and love!)

After the mass, President Duterte gave a 30-minute address to the people. The President kept his speech “apolitical” in respect to the religious activity. In his speech, Duterte urged the people to remain ardent in pursuit of true Catholic life.

He said Saint John Paul II reflects the kindness of the Filipinos.

The mass, which started at 4:11 p.m. and ended at around 8 p.m.

Formal dinner for the special guests will be served at the Tent City and Fiesta Pavillion of Manila Hotel. Food provided by Josiah’s Catering, along with fast-food chains inside the SM City North EDSA, SM City Manila, SM Megamall and SM Mall of Asia.

At the Luneta and at least 10 shrines around the Philippines, including Malolos Cathedral in Malolos City, Bulacan, Antipolo Cathedral in Antipolo City, Rizal, Imus Cathedral in Imus, Cavite and EDSA Shrine in Quezon City, there will be processions to be led by images of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The concelebrated mass, which will project the Philippines as a pilgrimage destination in Asia, will be covered by the national and international multi-media with possible hook-up by satellite. It will also be recorded, with the videotape to be sent to the Eternal World Television Network (EWTN).

The religious activity has been arranged in cooperation with the Wells Spring of Life, Sacred Land of Asia, Marian Movement, Charismatic Movement of the Philippines, Confradia, and Association of Shrine Rectors and Pilgrimage Promoters of the Philippines.

The DOT under Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo tapped the Philippine Tourism Authority and the business sector for funding to refurbish the old Christmas parol, which is now prominently displayed with moving lights on Roxas Boulevard, across from the Rizal monument.

El Shaddai love Tagle

Bishop Jessie Eugenio Mercado, spoke briefly to the crowd on how their charismatic movements and the Catholic hierarchy could differ on certain issues but remain united on basic Catholic tenets.

“We may agree on our politics, but we are united in faith,” Mercado said in Pilipino in his message just before 8:30pm.

He then quoted a Catholic saint who said: “If there is doubt, let there be differences.”

He asked the crowd to show their appreciation for the Asia's 36 archbishops--Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal G. Tagle, Manila Archbishop-Emeritus Gaudencio Cardinal B. Rosales, Nueva Segovia Archbishop Emeritus Ernesto Antolin Salgado, Nueva Segovia Archbishop Emeritus Edmundo M. Abaya, Nueva Segovia Archbishop Mario M. Perlata, Tuguegarao Archbishop Sergio L. Utleg, Tuguegarao Archbishop-Emeritus Diosdado A. Talamayan, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop-Emeritus Oscar Cardinal V. Cruz, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, San Fernando Archbishop Emeritus Paciano Cardinal B. Aniceto, San Fernando Archbishop Florentino G. Lavarias, Lipa Archbishop Ramon C. Arguelles, Nueva Caceres Archbishop Rolando O. Joven Tria Tirona, Capiz Archbishop Jose F. Advincula, Jaro Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo, Cebu Archbishop-Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal J. Vidal, Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma, Palo Archbishop-Emeritus Pedro R. Dean, Jr., Palo Archbishop John F. Du, Davao Archbishop-Emeritus Fernando R. Capalla, Davao Archbishop Romulo G. Valles, Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal B. Quevedo, Cagayan de Oro Archbishop-Emeritus Jesus B. Tuquib, Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, Ozamiz Archbishop Jesus A. Dosado and Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo T. Dela Cruz.

“We love you Cardinal Tagle, we love you Cardinal Rosales, we love you Cardinal Vidal, we love you Palma,” Mercado and the El Shaddai members chorused.

The celebration ended with a cultural dance presentation show, followed by a youth concert and a 1-hour fireworks display.

This will be participated in by Pasigarbo sa Sugbo contingents from Minglanilla, Talisay City, and Mandaue City. The Lumad Basakanon, who has reaped awards during the Sinulog festivities, will also be part of the presentation.

At 9:30 P.M., a 60-minute firework display from four barges in Manila Bay 250 meters off the shore, between the Manila Yacht Club and the United States Embassy set up by pyrotechnic experts from Bocaue, Bulacan for P120, 000 lit the night sky and lasted an hour and was met with a roar of applause by people at the parade grounds.

He was brought back by the same helicopter to Malacanang Park, where he boarded the Popemobile for the trip to the San Carlos Seminary in Makati City.

‘Hope’

The Pope called the world’s youth the “hope for the future” on which will depend the year 2020 which he described as “a marvelous epoch for humanity but which also raises not a few fears and anxieties.”

“Build your lives on the one model that will not deceive you,” he urged the youth.

“I invite you to open the Gospel and discover that Jesus Christ wants to be your friend.”

He challenged the Christian laity to do its part.

He called on “people who till the soil, factory workers, engineers, technicians, doctors, nurses and health care personnel, teachers, men and women in the legal profession, those who serve in public life.”

He also challenged “writers, people who work in the television, theater and cinema and the media, artists, celebrities, musicians, sculptors and painters” to take part in the mission.

Again addressing the family and youth, the Pope added “one specific challenge and appeal, which involves the healing of a source of immense frustration and suffering in many families all over the world.”

Gratitude toward parents He said: “Parents and older people sometimes feel that they have lost contact with you, and they are upset, just as Mary and Joseph felt anguish when they realized that Jesus had stayed behind in Jerusalem.

“Sometimes you are very critical of the world of adults, and sometimes they are very critical of you… But always remember that you owe your life and upbringing to your parents.”

He exhorted both parents and children “to build bridges of dialogue and communication.”

People from all over the world, including a black youth clad in a g-string, presented offerings at the Mass.

A man from the Netherlands read the manifesto of the International Youth Forum.

More than a hundred members of the Presidential Security Group were around to secure the President and some members of his Cabinet.

Previously, the late Pope John Paul II’s biggest crowd was the 2 million people who turned out on June 6, 1979 at his hometown of Krakow, Poland for his first visit to the late pope's Polish homeland after his elevation to the Papacy on October 16, 1978.

The last state visits to the Philippines, that of Pope John Paul II on January 15, 1995, attracted around 5 million people— “the largest papal crowd in history”—according to the Guinness World Records.

The Mass was the climax of the Roman Catholic Church’s annual celebration of the annual weekend feast of Santo Nino de Cebu which brought together Roman Catholics from around the world.
There were a relative handful of representatives from the Muslim faith, Iglesia ni Cristo, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Council of Laity in the Philippines, Mission of All the World Ministries and the FullGospel Businessmen's Fellowship.

The main concelebrants of the Mass were Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Tagle, Manila Archbishop-Emeritus Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, Nueva Segovia Archbishop-Emeritus Ernesto Antolin Salgado, Nueva Segovia Archbishop Emeritus Edmundo M. Abaya, Nueva Segovia Archbishop Mario Perlata, Tuguegarao Archbishop Sergio Utleg, Tuguegarao Archbishop-Emeritus Diosdado Talamayan, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop-Emeritus Oscar Cruz, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines President and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, San Fernando Archbishop Emeritus Paciano Aniceto, San Fernando Archbishop Florentino Lavarias, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, Nueva Caceres Archbishop Rolando Joven Tria Tirona, Capiz Archbishop Jose Advincula, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Palo Archbishop-Emeritus Pedro Dean, Jr., Palo Archbishop John Du, Davao Archbishop-Emeritus Fernando R. Capalla, Davao Archbishop Romulo G. Valles, Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, Cagayan de Oro Archbishop-Emeritus Jesus Tuquib, Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, Ozamiz Archbishop Jesus A. Dosado, Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo Dela Cruz, Singapore Archbishop William Goh Seng Chye, Singapore Archbishop-Emeritus Nicholas Gerald Chia, Kuala Lumpur Archbishop Julian Leow Beng Kim, Kuala Lumpur Archbishop-Emeritus Anthony Soter Fernandez, Kuala Lumpur Archbishop-Emeritus Murphy Pakiam, Kuching Archbishop John Ha Tiong Hock, Kuching Archbishop-Emeritus Peter Chung Hoan Ting, Kota Kinabalu Archbishop John Wong Soo Kau, Kota Kinabalu Archbishop-Emeritus John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw, Jakata Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, Jakarta Archbishop-Emeritus Julius Cardinal Riyadi Darmaatmadja, Palembang Archbishop Aloysius Sudarso, Kupang Archbishop Peter Turang, Makassar Archbishop Johannes Liku Ada, Medan Archbishop Anicetus Bongsu Antonius Sinaga, Medan Archbishop-Emeritus Alfred Gonti Pius Datubara, Pontianak Archbishop Agustinus Agus, Pontianak Archbishop-Emeritus Hieronymus Herculanus Bumbun, Vientiane Archbishop Jean Khamsé Vithavong, Savannakhet Archbishop Jean Marie Vianney Prida Inthirath, Phnom Penh Archbishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Malanday Archbishop Nicholas Mang Thang, Malanday Archbishop-Emeritus Paul Zingtung Grawng, Taunggyi Archbishop Matthias U Shwe, Yangon Archbishop-Emeritus Gabriel Thohey Mahn-Gaby, Yangon Archbishop Charles Maung Bo, Bangkok Archbishop Kriengsak Kovitvanit, Bangkok Archbishop-Emeritus Michael Michai Kitbunchu, Thare and Nonseng Archbishop Louis Chamniern Santisukniram, Hanoi Archbishop Peter Nguyễn Văn Nhơn, Hanoi Archbishop-Emeritus Joseph Ngô Quang Kiệt, Ho Chi Minh City Archbishop Bùi Văn Đọc, Ho Chi Minh City Archbishop-Emeritus Phạm Minh Mẫn, Huế Archbishop-Emeritus Etienne Nguyên Nhu Thê, Huế Archbishop François Xavier Le Van Hong, Delhi Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, Delhi Archbishop-Emeritus Vincent Michael Cardinal Conçessao, Bangalore Archbishop Bernard Moras, Bangalore Archbishop-Emeritus Alphonsus Mathias, Bangalore Archbishop-Emeritus Ignatius Paul Pinto, Mumbai Archbishop Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Chennai Archbishop George Antonysamy, Chennai Archbishop-Emeritus Malayappan Chinnappa, Kolkata Archbishop Thomas D'Souza, Kolkata Archbishop-Emeritus Henry Sebastian D’Souza,  Kolkata Archbishop-Emeritus Lucas Sirkar, Mumbai Archbishop-Emeritus Ivan Cardinal Dias, Gandhinagar Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes, Hyderabad Archbishop Thumma Bala, Guwahati Archbishop John Moolachira, Guwahati Archbishop-Emeritus Thomas Menamparampil, Colombo Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Cardinal Patabendige Don, Colombo Archbishop-Emeritus Oswald Gomis, Dhaka Archbishop Patrick D’Rozario, Dhaka Archbishop-Emeritus Paulinus Costa, Karachi Archbishop Joseph Coutts, Karachi Archbishop-Emeritus Evarist Pinto, Lahore Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw, Lahore Archbishop-Emeritus Lawrence John Saldanha, Beijing Archbishop Joseph Li Shan, Guangzhou Archbishop Joseph Gan Junqiu, Taipei Archbishop John Hung Shan-chuan, Taipei Archbishop-Emeritus Matthew Kia Yen-wen, Taipei Archbishop-Emeritus Joseph Ti-kang, Taipei Archbishop-Emeritus Joseph Cheng Tsai-fa, Seoul Archbishop Andrew Yeom Soo-Jung, Seoul Archbishop-Emeritus Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, Daegu Archbishop  Thaddeus Cho Hwan-gil, Daegu Archbishop John Choi Young-su, Daegu Archbishop-Emeritus Paul Ri Moun-hi, Tokyo Archbishop Peter Takeo Okada, Gwangju Archbishop Simon Ok Hyun-jin, Gwangju Archbishop-Emeritus Andrew Choi Chang-mu, Gwangju Archbishop-Emeritus Victorinus Youn Kong-hi, Osaka Archbishop Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda, Osaka Archbishop-Emeritus Paul Hisao Yasuda, Osaka Archbishop-Emeritus Leo Jun Ikenaga, Nagasaki Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami, Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher, Sydney Archbishop-Emeritus George Pell, Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart, Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Perth Archbishop Timothy John Costelloe, Perth Archbishop-Emeritus Barry James Hickey, Canberra Archbishop Christopher Charles Prowse, Canberra Archbishop-Emeritus Francis Carroll, Hobart Archbishop Julian Porteous, Hobart Archbishop-Emeritus Adrian Leo Doyle, Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson, Adelaide Archbishop-Emeritus Leonard Anthony Faulkner, Wellington Archbishop John Atcherley Dew, Nouméa, New Caledonia Archbishop Michel-Marie-Bernard Calvet, Papeete, French Polynesia Archbishop Pascal Chang-Soi, Papeete, French Polynesia Archbishop-Emeritus Hubert Coppenrath, Apia, Samoa Archbishop Alapati Lui Mataeliga, Port Moresby Archbishop John Ribat, Port Moresby Archbishop-Emeritus Brian James Barnes, Mount Hagen Archbishop Douglas William Young, Mount Hagen Archbishop-Emeritus Michael Meier, Madang Archbishop Stephen Joseph Reichert, Madang Archbishop-Emeritus Benedict To Varpin, Madang Archbishop-Emeritus William Joseph Kurtz, Rabaul Archbishop Francesco Panfilo, Rabaul Archbishop-Emeritus Karl Hesse, Honiara Archbishop Adrian Thomas Smith, New York City, New York, United States Archbishop Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, New York City, New York, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Edward Michael Cardinal Egan, Newark, New Jersey, United States Archbishop John J. Myers, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Archbishop Leonard Paul Blair, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Henry Joseph Mansell, Boston, Massachusetts, United States Archbishop Seán Patrick Cardinal O'Malley, Boston, Massachusetts, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Bernard Francis Cardinal Law, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States Archbishop Jerome Edward Listecki Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Archbishop Dennis Marion Schnurr, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Daniel Edward Pilarczyk, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Archbishop Joseph William Tobin, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Daniel Mark Buechlein, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Archbishop Charles Joseph Chaput, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Justin Francis Cardinal Rigali, Chicago, Illinois, United States Archbishop Blase Joseph Cupich, Chicago, Illinois, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Francis Eugene Cardinal George, Anchorage, Alaska, United States Archbishop Roger Lawrence Schwietz, Anchorage, Alaska, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Francis Hurley, Seattle, Washington, United States Archbishop James Peter Sartain, Seattle, Washington, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Alexander Joseph Brunett, Portland, Oregon, United States Archbishop Alexander King Sample, Portland, Oregon, United States Archbishop-Emeritus John George Vlazny, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States Archbishop Michael Jarboe Sheehan, Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America Archbishop John Clayton Nienstedt, Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America Archbishop-Emeritus Harry Joseph Flynn, Dubuque, Iowa, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Daniel Kucera, Dubuque, Iowa, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Jerome Hanus, Los Angeles City, California, United States Archbishop José Horacio Gómez, Los Angeles City, California, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Roger Michael Cardinal Mahony, San Francisco, California, United States Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone, San Francisco, California, United States Archbishop-Emeritus George Hugh Niederauer, San Francisco, California, United States Archbishop-Emeritus William Joseph Cardinal Levada, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States Archbishop Robert James Carlson, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, Kansas City, Kansas, United States Archbishop Joseph Fred Naumann, Kansas City, Kansas, United States Archbishop-Emeritus James Patrick Keleher, Galveston, Texas, United States Archbishop Daniel Nicholas Cardinal DiNardo, Galveston, Texas Archbishop-Emeritus Joseph Fiorenza, Mobile, Alabama, United States Archbishop Thomas John Rodi, Mobile, Alabama, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Oscar Hugh Lipscomb, Atlanta, Georgia, United States Archbishop Wilton Daniel Gregory, Baltimore, Maryland, United States Archbishop William Edward Lori, Baltimore, Maryland, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Edwin Frederick O'Brien, Washington, District of Columbia, United States Archbishop Donald William Wuerl, Washington, District of Columbia, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Theodore Edgar Cardinal McCarrick, Miami, Florida, United States Archbishop Thomas Gerard Wenski, Miami, Florida, United States Archbishop-Emeritus John Clement Favalora, Louisville, Kentucky, United States Archbishop Joseph Edward Kurtz, Detroit, Michigan, United States Archbishop Allen Henry Vigneron, Detroit, Michigan, United States Archbishop-Emeritus Adam Joseph Cardinal Maida, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Archbishop Christian Lépine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Archbishop-Emeritus Jean-Claude Cardinal Turcotte, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada Archbishop Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada Archbishop-Emeritus Marc Cardinal Ouellet, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada Archbishop-Emeritus Giovanni Battista Cardinal Re, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada Archbishop Pierre-André Fournier, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Archbishop Thomas Christopher Collins, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Archbishop John Michael Miller, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Archbishop-Emeritus Raymond Roussin, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Archbishop-Emeritus Vernon James Weisgerber, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Archbishop Richard William Smith, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Archbishop Anthony Mancin, Keewatin, Ontario, Canada Archbishop Murray Chatlain, Kingston, Ontario, Canada Archbishop Brendan Michael O'Brien, Moncton, New Brunswick Archbishop Valéry Vienneau, Moncton, New Brunswick Archbishop-Emeritus Valéry Vienneau, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada Archbishop Daniel Joseph Bohan, Mexico City, Mexico Archbishop Norberto Cardinal Rivera Carrera, Acapulco de Juárez, Guerrero, Mexico Archbishop Carlos Garfias Merlos, San Juan, Puerto Rico Archbishop Roberto Octavio González Nieves, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Archbishop José Francisco Cardinal Robles Ortega, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Archbishop-Emeritus Juan Cardinal Sandoval Íñiguez, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico Archbishop José Fernández Arteaga, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico Archbishop-Emeritus Constancio Miranda Weckmann, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico Archbishop José Luiz Chávez Botello, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico Archbishop Jesús Carlos Cabrero Romero, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico Archbishop-Emeritus Luis Morales Reyes, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico Archbishop-Emeritus Arturo Antonio Szymanski Ramírez, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico Archbishop Rafael Romo Muñoz, Durango, Durango, Mexico Archbishop José Antonio Fernández Hurtado, Durango, Durango, Mexico Archbishop-Emeritus Héctor González Martínez, Durango, Durango, Mexico Archbishop-Emeritus José Trinidad Medel Pérez, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico Archbishop Rogelio Cabrera López, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Archbishop José Francisco Cardinal Robles Ortega, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico Archbishop Fabio Martínez Castilla, Puebla de los Ángeles, Puebla, Mexico Archbishop José Víctor Manuel Valentín Sánchez Espinosa, Puebla de los Ángeles, Puebla, Mexico Archbishop Emeritus Rosendo Huesca Pacheco, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico Archbishop Alberto Suárez Inda, Tlalnepantla, Morelos, Mexico Archbishop, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico Archbishop Emilio Carlos Berlie Belaunzarán, Tlalnepantla de Baz, State of Mexico, Mexico Archbishop Carlos Aguiar Retes, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico Archbishop José Ulises Macías Salcedo, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico Archbishop-Emeritus Carlos Quintero Arce, Tulancingo, Hidalgo, Mexico Archbishop Domingo Díaz Martínez, Tulancingo, Hidalgo, Mexico Archbishop Emeritus Pedro Aranda Díaz-Muñoz, León, Guanajuato, Mexico Archbishop Alfonso Cortés Contreras, León, Guanajuato, Mexico Archbishop-Emeritus José Guadalupe Martín Rábago, Castries, St. Lucia Archbishop Robert Rivas, Castries, St. Lucia Archbishop-Emeritus Kelvin Edward Cardinal Felix, Fort-de-France, Martinique Archbishop Maurice Rigobert Marie-Sainte, Fort-de-France, Martinique Archbishop-Emeritus Maurice Rigobert Marie-Sainte, Kingston, Jamaica Archbishop Charles Henry Dufour, Kingston, Jamaica Archbishop-Emeritus Donald James Reece, Nassau, Bahamas Archbishop Patrick Christopher Pinder, Hamilton, Bermuda Bishop Robert Joseph Kurtz, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Archbishop Joseph Everard Harris, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Archbishop-Emeritus Edward Joseph Gilbert, Buenos Aires, Argentina Archbishop Mario Aurelio Poli, Córdoba, Córdoba Province, Argentina Archbishop Carlos José Ñáñez, Corrientes, Corrientes Province, Argentina Archbishop Andrés Stanovnik, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Archbishop-Emeritus Eusebio Cardinal Scheid, Rio de Janerio, Rio de Janerio, Brazil Archbishop Orani João Tempesta, Aparecida, São Paulo, Brazil Archbishop Raymundo Cardinal Damasceno Assis, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil Archbishop-Emeritus Paulo Evaristo Cardinal Arns, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil Archbishop-Emeritus and Former President for the International Council for Catechesis Claudio Cardinal Hummes, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil Archbishop Odilo Cardinal Scherer, Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil Archbishop Eduardo Benes de Sales Rodrigues, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil Archbishop Emeritus Geraldo Cardinal Agnelo, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil Archbishop Murilo Ramos Krieger, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil Archbishop Sérgio da Rocha, Teresina, Piauí Archbishop-Emeritus Miguel Fenelon Câmara Filho, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil Archbishop-Emeritus Celso José Pinto da Silva, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil Archbishop Jacinto Furtado de Brito Sobrinho, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil Archbishop Paulo Mendes Peixoto, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil Archbishop Emeritus Silvestre Luís Scandian, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil Archbishop Luiz Mancilha Vilela, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Cardinal Parolin, Dean of the College of Cardinals Angelo Cardinal Sudano, and Stanisław Cardinal Ryłko, head of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

Hundreds and thousands of cardinals, bishops, deacons and priests also served as concelebrants.

The concluding rites started over an hour late than slated as the gathering, estimated to number more than five to ten million, prevented the Pope from traveling short distance from the Apostolic Nunciature to the park grounds in his popemobile.

Instead, the Pope was brought to the Quirino Grandstand by helicopter.

The entrance hymn had to be sung before the mass began in earnest. Priest in charge of the event enjoined the crowd to sing, to pray and even to do a “love wave” to help while away the time and to stretch aching muscles.

So thick was the crowd that evens the base of the Rizal monument, normally off-limits to the public, became a dais on which the people stood shoulder-to-shoulder.

Neither the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila nor the Vatican had prepared for such an eventually. There, was some discussion on whether the pontiff should take a helicopter or a boat through Manila Bay to the Luneta when the sheer size of the crowd exceeded all expectations.

The mass of people stretched from north to south from the Manila Hotel all way down to the Ramon Magsaysay Building on Roxas Boulevard. No blacktop was visible from as far as huge portions of T.M. Kalaw, U.N. Avenue and Padre Faura, three major streets perpendicular to the main road fronting the venue of the Feast of Santo Nino de Cebu event.

Scores of government officials, foreign dignitaries, sports icons, entertainment celebrities and high society personalities attended the 3-day annual feast of Santo Nino de Cebu which was televised live nationwide via domestic satellite on television over GMA-7, RPN-9, ABC-5, PTV-4, IBC-13, and ABS-CBN Channel 2 and aired live on radio over Radio Mindanao Network (RMN), GMA Radyo Bisig-Bayan AM, ABS-CBN Radyo Patrol AM and My Only Radio FM, Catholic Media Network, Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC)’s DZRH and Radyo Natin FM, RPN Radyo Ronda AM and Bureau of Broadcast Services-Radyo ng Bayan radio stations.

“To see him”

Scores of people who had been waiting for the Pope started leaving Rizal Park when they learned he had taken a helicopter.

“Why should I stay when I won’t see him, after all?” said an elderly woman. “I just came here to see the Pope.”

By the time the annual event started, the crowd in front of the Manila Hotel had shrunk to a third of its original size.

More than 10 million children aged Under 1, 1 - 4, 5 - 9, 10 - 14, 15 - 19 and 20 - 24, were reported missing while thousands suffering from intense heat and cold collapsed in the mass camp-out at the Apostolic Nunciature, Port Area, Plaza Miranda, Rizal Park, Ermita, Baywalk, Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex and SM Mall of Asia complex from Friday morning to Monday noontime.

As of 5:30 p.m. yesterday, the Department of Health counted 10 million persons who were brought to emergency medical stations at the park, Port Area District, Manila Cathedral, Baywalk, CCP Complex and SM Mall of Asia complex.

The complaints involved dizziness, asthma, allergies and headaches, said Dr. John Layugan, a member of the Stop Disasters, Epidemics, Accidents and Traumas for Health (Stop Death) team.

Criselda Tungcol, 39, a WYD delegate from San Juan City, Metro Manila, was rushed to the Polymedic General Hospital in Mandaluyong after suffering spasms at Rizal Park. She has since been discharged.

Although the Pope looked very tired and lost in thought as he arrived for a Sunday evening meeting with Asian bishops, aides said his Manila reception was just what he needed to help get through the loss of his former active lifestyle.

“That kind of change is difficult psychologically and this trip has helped him come to peace with himself about this new phase in his life,” the aide added.

“It has recharged his batteries.”

Crowd estimate

The WPD arrived at the crowd estimate by multiplying 610,000 square meters or 61 hectares (the approximate area of the western portion of the park from the Quirino Grandstand to Roxas Boulevard to Taft Avenue to Manila Bay at the back of the grandstand) by four (the number of persons who, Razon said, could stand inside one sq.m.).

Three days before the event, tents of sack, plastic and umbrellas had already mushroomed in and around the venue. The residential families from the local government units arrived in buses, trucks, jeepneys, and other vehicles festooned. In view of the huge numbers of people coming to the venue, the Roxas Boulevard was closed and a big number of those who came had to stay in their vehicles, go to the rooftops of nearby buildings, or sit on the sidewalks and simply monitor the celebration on their portable TV and radio sets.

While at least seven persons can fit into one sq.m., the MPD reduced the number to four, taking into consideration that portions of Parade Avenue and the field in front of the grandstand had numerous obstructions such as trees, vendors’ booths and muddy ground.

Added into the equation was the estimated number of people at the eastern portion of the park from Roxas Boulevard to Taft Avenue, and those outside the park proper (on T.M. Kalaw Street, Maria Orosa Street, Roxas Boulevard from T.M. Kalaw to Padre Faura Street, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area District, Padre Burgos Drive and Finance Road, Jones Bridge, MacArthur Bridge, Quezon Bridge and Ayala Bridge, United Nations Avenue, Quirino Avenue Extension, Taft Avenue from Quirino Avenue southbound and northbound, Baywalk, CCP Complex and SM Mall of Asia complex and ends at Baclaran, between the east end of Aseana Avenue and west end of Andrews Avenue).

Asuncion was assisted in computing the crowd number by the police command center led by Chief Insp. Ferdinand Ampil, head of the MPD Tactical Operations Center. The center was based on the fourth floor of the Manila Hotel overlooking the park.

At 5 p.m. Sunday, January 5, Ampil and the command center placed the number at 10 million, which swelled, he said, shortly after the President arrived for the concluding mass of the 32nd World Youth Day.

“There were no untoward incidents, thank God,” he told reporters.

The MPD and the National Capital Regional Police Office deployed 2,500 uniformed and plain-clothes personnel in the area.

Razon himself was posted on Katigbak Street leading to the grandstand.

Enlightenment

Representatives of religious organizations took turns praying for Mr. Aquino’s enlightenment. They did not ask that he see the good of his sucess, as Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle put it at the Jesus is Lord Church event on the occasion of it’s 38thanniversary celebration at the same venue on October 28 to 29, 87 days prior to the concluding mass of Pope Francis on the third and last day of his state visit and apostolic journey to the country yesterday and today, January 18 to 19, but for him to continue to lead the country toward peace, unity and prosperity.

Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ, who, event organizers had said was to have delivered a testimonial to the President, was present.

Organizers also earlier said that the Philippine Independent Church would participate.

“Let the light of Your Face shine upon his life… so that he may see the path that you want him to take,” said Bishop Efraim Perez of the New Hope of Life Church based in Barangay Pinagbarilan,
Bulacan.

Rev. Fr. Larry Faraon, representing the Catholic Church, went against the stand of the Manila Archdiocese and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines as he led the prayer for
“productive interaction between the Church and the government.”

Faraon replaced fellow Dominican Rev. Fr. Sonny Ramirez in leading the prayer.

El Shaddai’s Velarde, Mr. Aquino III’s spiritual adviser, and the INC’s Samson, Jr. prayed for an end to divisions among the people so that there could be a dialogue for the country’s good.

“Let all political parties and religions (come together) so that this annual event may be sucessful,” Velarde said.

“Help us find the way to harmony and peace so that we can do away with hate and fighting,” said Samson.

Frank Rola, a leader of the Jesus Miracle Crusade (JMC), said: “For the respectable President of our country, President Rodrigo Duterte, give him strength and physical health. Guide him… for the progress of our country, especially in his resolve to uplift the condition of majority of our people.”

The JMC had one of the largest contingents, coming in third in number after the El Shaddai and the INC.

The others who led prayers were Patriarch John Florentine Teruel of the Apostolic Catholic Church; Roger Arienda of the Federation of Christian Churches, who called the three-day weekend gathering “a miracle”; Ruth Castro of the Cheers Prayer Fellowship; and Aleem Mohammad Cana of the Ulama Conference of the Philippines.

Brisk sales

People started arriving at the rally site as Friday Morning, January 16 as 4 a.m.

As the day wore on, more people came from the 42,029 barangays from 1,634 cities and municipalities which includes the capital of Manila, Quezon City, the Municipality of Pateros, and the cities of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, San Juan, Taguig, and Valenzuela, and cities and municipalities of provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Benguet, Pangasinan, La Union, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Cagayan, Batanes, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon Province, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Nueva Camarines, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, Antique, Aklan, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Bohol, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Dinagat Island, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Shariff Kabunsuan, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Bukidnon, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, Thai capital of Bangkok and amphoes, tambons and mubans of provinces of Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, Buri Ram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chonburi, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pattani, Phang Nga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchaburi, Phuket, Prachinburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon,  and sovereign states of Abkhazia, Afghanistan, Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Åland Islands, Anguilla, Armenia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bonaire, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Christmas Island, Clipperton Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Egypt, Estonia, Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, Finland, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Gambia, Gibraltar, Greenland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guernsey, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Maldives, Martinique, Marshall Islands, Mayotte, Mauritania, Mauritius, Melilla, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Nauru, Navassa Island, Nepal, Netherlands, North Korea, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Cyprus, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Nueva Esparta, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Réunion, Russia, Rwanda, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Andrés and Providencia, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Somaliland, South Korea, South Ossetia, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Transnistria, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe, US states of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming, Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan and territories of Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon and Mexican  capital of Mexico City and states of Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo, León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatán, Zacatecas were attended.

Business was brisking for vendors of "street food"--fish balls, popcorn, chicken innards--and ice cream, bottled water and soft drinks.

The event may have been held to mark the “31st Feast of Santo Nino de Cebu,” with the theme “Santo Niño: Hope of the People”, to mark the 450th year of the finding of the image of the Santo Niño de Cebu [1565-2015], the 450 Years of Presence of the Augustinians in The Philippines [1565-2015], and the 50th Year Anniversary of the Santo Niño Church as Basilica Minore but many of the participants were observed feasting on food and drink and engaged in card games.

“The accusations against the President are all lies. Noynoy is good. He loves the poor. He gives them land. We came here to fight for Noynoy,” Gemma Mananglay of Tondo, Manila told the INQUIRER.

A women’s group came in red shirts that bore the message “Mahal namin si Mayor Erap Estrada.”

Estrada is a staunch supporter of Mr. Aquino III.

Police confiscated several pro-Noynoy streamers and posters mostly brought by a group from Mandaluyong.

Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice said he had received a complaint that a resident, supposedly an El Shaddai member, was given P10, 000 yesterday morning by a barangay captain to mobilize people to attend the rally.

A group of Marcos loyalists who claimed to have spent Friday night at the rally site walked in before the President arrived Sunday when they noted that they were among the groups acknowledged.

“It’s because we’re poor and have no influence. We are not considered important here,” said a middle-aged female loyalist before leaving.

‘Merienda’

Journalists covering the rally were told to register with organizers in a function room at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

After listing down the reporters’ names and distributing access tags, the organizers gave them cakes that bore the phrase “peace and unity” written in icing.

Reporters were also invited to partake of pancit canton, fresh lumpia and ensaymada before they were sent off in air-conditioned vans to the rally site.

Nearly all parking areas of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex and SM Mall of Asia shopping mall and Mall of Asia Arena parking lot in Pasay City and Harrison Plaza Shopping Center in Manila were occupied by provincial buses.

Passengers wore color codes on their collars, apparently to make their group easily identifiable to their marshals.

On Ortigas Avenue, police observed three buses loading people supposedly bound for the gathering site.

“It’s obviously hakot, most probably by (Rizal) Gov. (Casimiro) Ynares because he has been vocal about his support for the President,” said a rookie cop.

The INQUIRER witnessed other “hakot” activities in Pasig City and Payatas, Quezon City.

A tricycle driver said they were offered P300 each to attend. “But even if they did not offer P300, many drivers will still go because the President promised them land titles,” he said.

After the mass, Kris shared the photo taken prior to the ceremony.

"Picture was taken before Mass started. I really obeyed when it was announced that no pictures please during Mass," Kris wrote.

"When I was about to take the picture PNoy said: “Instagram na naman?” I said please pagbigyan na ko, super cute naman the 3 of them, and it's a mother's joy to take pics of her sons. And anyway, no signal in Luneta, so late upload."

“After the Mass, when Pope Francis was waving from the Popemobile, Bimb said: "Thank You God, this was the best experience ever.”

On Friday, January 13, Kris met the Pope for the first time during the Pontiff's Philippine visit during a private moment. She shared the photos on Instagram.

Pope Francis in his homily highlighted the Filipinos' special relationship with Santo Niño, the Child Jesus, asking the faithful to embrace the identity of being “God’s children.”

“Throughout my visit, I have listened to you sing the song: ‘We are all God’s children.’ That is what the Santo Niño tells us. He reminds us of our deepest identity. All of us are God’s children, members of God’s family,” said Pope Francis.

Pope Francis, in the country for a five-day visit, added that Catholics are God’s adopted children, and in turn Jesus’ own siblings.

“Today Saint Paul has told us that in Christ we have become God’s adopted children, brothers and sisters in Christ. This is who we are. This is our identity. We saw a beautiful expression of this when Filipinos rallied around our brothers and sisters affected by the typhoon,” he said, referring to super typhoon Yolanda, which leveled Central Visayas and killed thousands on November 8, 2013.

'Why do children suffer?'

The Pope's second full day in the Philippines on Friday continues after the mass at Manila Cathedral with an emotional “Greetings to Students” at University of Santo Tomas in Manila, where he was moved by a question posed by a 12-year-old girl who had been abandoned.

"Many children are abandoned by their parents. Many of them became victims and bad things have happened to them, like drug addiction and prostitution. Why does God allow this to happen, even if the children are not at fault? Why it is that only a few people help us?" the girl, Glyzelle Iris Palomar, asked him.

The girl, who was rescued and found shelter in a Church-run community, broke down in tears and could finish her prepared welcome. The Pope hugged her and later put aside most of his own prepared speech to respond.

"She is the only one who has put forward a question for which there is no answer and she was not even able to express it in words but rather in tears," he said, visibly moved.

"Why do children suffer?" the Argentine Pope said, speaking in his native Spanish. An aide translated his words into English for the crowd of about 30,000 young people on the grounds of the Church-run University.

"I invite each one of you to ask yourselves, 'Have I learned how to weep ... when I see a hungry child, a child on the street who uses drugs, a homeless child, an abandoned child, an abused child, a child that society uses as a slave'?" he said.

Children can be seen living on the streets of the Philippine capital, as they often do in many poor Asian countries, surviving by begging and picking through garbage in vast dumps.

The United Nations says 1.2 million children live on the streets in the Philippines. According to the Child Protection Network Foundation, 35.1 percent of children were living in poverty in 2009, the last year such data was available. Nearly 33 percent of Filipinos live in slums.

In his homily at the Mass, the Pope again spoke of the need to defend children, saying: "We need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected. And we need to care for our young people, not allowing them to be robbed of hope and condemned to life on the streets."

Asia's role model

The Pope's five-day visit to the Philippines for the World Youth Day, which began on Thursday at the Villamor Airbase.

It is his second trip to Asia in five months, in a nod to the growing importance of the region to the Catholic Church as it faces declining support in Europe and the United States.

It is also the fourth papal visit to the Philippines.

The Philippines is the Catholic Church’s benchmark in Asia, with 80 percent of the former Spanish colony followers of the faith.

Rapturous receptions for the pope throughout his Philippine journey, including millions crowding his motorcade routes in Manila, have cemented the nation's status as the Church's Asian role model.

According to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino, the Papal Mass was attended by a record six million people.

In the event, Pope Francis spoke about "poverty, ignorance and corruption" -- a theme which has been drawn out throughout his five-day visit to the country.