- Title: POPE-PHILIPPINES/ARRIVAL-UPDATE Pope arrives in Philippines amid massive security
- Date: 15th January 2015
- Summary: POPE SPEAKING TO PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO (WEARING WHITE SHIRT AND GLASSES)
- Embargoed: 30th January 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Philippines
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVADVJ13A2E3TSDJXZIWCJDA8HVQ
- Story Text: Pope Francis arrived in the Philippines on Thursday (January 15), the second and last stop in his week-long Asia tour, to a chorus of church bells signalling his arrival.
Asia's most populous Catholic nation mounted its biggest security operation, deploying nearly 50,000 soldiers and police in the capital and in the central Philippine province of Leyte for his weekend trip to the poverty stricken nation.
He landed at Manila's Villamor air base and was welcomed by Philippine President Benigno Aquino, members of his cabinet, Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle and other bishops.
The atmosphere was festive as about 1,500 schoolchildren welcomed the Pope with dancing, waving white flags and red, white and blue umbrellas to form the Philippine flag. Their shirts were printed with the message "Mabuhay (Welcome) Pope Francis!"
Two children were chosen to offer garlands to the Pope - nine-year old Lani Ortilla, who was rescued from the streets, and 10 year-old Mark Angelo Marvelos, whose mother abandoned him and his six siblings at a shelter.
Two school girls spoke of their delight after seeing the Pope in person
"I can't even describe this feeling. I want to cry and I'm so very thankful of Pope Francis, and I know he will be an instrument for peace in the Philippines," Sharia May Estrada said.
"It's that overwhelming and you don't see that everyday, and it felt like you're seeing Jesus in person through him," Eljay Castro added.
Francis then boarded the Pope mobile to take him past thousands of well-wishers, as he travelled to the Papal Nunciature in the country's capital.
Security fears and a potential storm have Philippine leaders on edge as Francis arrived on his first visit to the Philippines, where millions of people are expected to attend public events.
Francis is the third pontiff to visit the world's third biggest Roman Catholic country, after Brazil and Mexico. About 80 percent of the Philippines' 100 million population are Roman Catholics, accounting for half of Asia's total. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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