Pope Francis draws record crowd of 6 million in Philippines
By Nicole Winfield and Teresa Carojano
The Associated Press
Posted: 01/19/2015 12:01:00 AM MST
MANILA, Philippines — A crowd estimated by officials at a record 6 million people poured into Manila's rain-soaked streets and its biggest park Sunday as Pope Francis ended his Asian pilgrimage with an appeal for Filipinos to protect their young from sin and vice so they can instead become missionaries of the faith.
The crowd estimate, which could not be independently verified, included people who attended the pope's final Mass in Rizal Park and surrounding areas, and lined his motorcade route, said Francis Tolentino, chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the Vatican had received the figure officially from local authorities and that it was a record, surpassing the 5 million who turned out for St. John Paul II's final Mass in the same park in 1995.
Francis dedicated the final homily of his week-long Asia trip, which began in Sri Lanka, to children, given that the Mass fell on an important feast day honoring the infant Jesus. His focus was a reflection of the importance that the Vatican places on Asia as the future of the church. It's one of the few places where Catholic numbers are growing, and the Philippines is the largest Catholic nation in the region.
"We need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected," Francis said in his homily. "And we need to care for our young people, not allowing them to be robbed of hope and condemned to a life on the streets."
Francis made a triumphant entry into Rizal Park, riding on a popemobile based on the design of a jeepney, the modified U.S. Army World War II jeep that is a common means of public transport here.
He wore the same cheap, plastic yellow rain poncho handed out to the masses during his visit to the typhoon-hit eastern city of Tacloban a day earlier.
The crowd — a sea of humanity in colorful rain ponchos spread out across the 148 acres of parkland and boulevards surrounding it — erupted in shrieks of joy when he drove by. It was a reflection of the incredible resonance Francis' message about caring for society's most marginal has had in a country where about a quarter of its 100 million people live in poverty.
"It was a blessing that we saw him. Even if we were soaked by the rain, we feel fine," said Emmie Toreras, 38, who was wearing a garbage bag to guard against the rain. She said she had slept in the park since Friday to score a view of the pope.
Francis dedicated his four-day trip to the Philippines to the poor and marginal. Earlier Sunday, Francis drew a huge crowd to Manila's Catholic university, where he came close to tears himself hearing two rescued street children speak of their lives growing up poor and abandoned.
Read More
Suertres tips/Swertres tips - Latest;
Yesterday's results are at the bottom
134*
145*
155*
269
378
356
* = Hot Numbers
For best results, it is suggested to always employ rumble on the tips above.
If you still need help with the tips above, contact us on Facebook
Lotto Results Yesterday - PCSO
For January 18, 2015 Sunday
EZ2 Two Lotto
Morning 11am: 09-03
Afternoon 4pm: 17-23
Evening 9pm: 17-26
Winning numbers in exact order
Php 4,000.00 per 10 peso play
Swertres ‘3’ Lotto Luzon Vis-Min
Morning 11:00 am: 8-9-6
Afternoon 4:00 pm: 5-4-3
Evening 9:00 pm: 3-7-1
Winning numbers in exact order
Php: 4,500 per 10 peso play
Super 6/49 Nationwide Lotto
49-36-26-42-05-04
Current Jackpot: Php 16,000,000.00
(0)winner
Winning numbers in any order
For best results, it is suggested to always employ rumble on the tips above.
If you still need help with the tips above, contact us on Facebook
Social Plugin