Moments before takeoff, Pope Francis waved goodbye to Filipinos from the window of Shepherd One, the flight that would bring him home to Rome.

 

The chartered Philippine Airlines plane bearing the seal of the Vatican was moved to the runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 9:55 a.m.

Shepherd One clear for take off. | #BlessedByThePope via @papalvisitph pic.twitter.com/96UbqQHwxe

— GMA News (@gmanews) January 19, 2015

 

It took off at 10:12 a.m., with children at the tarmac waving goodbye.

Palipad na ang papal plane. #BlessedByThePope http://t.co/q0tmsGFddM pic.twitter.com/EqKMtCjSTs

— GMA News (@gmanews) January 19, 2015

 

Earlier, the Pope bade farewell to top Philippine Catholic Church and government officials before boarding the flight.

 

He arrived at Villamor Air Base at 9:30 a.m., following a motorcade that saw him bless Filipinos who lined the route from the Apostolic Nunciature to the airbase.

 

Songs from two papal visits—the 2015 visit, and Saint John Paul II's 1995 visit—as well as "Shine Jesus Shine" were sung at the sendoff ceremony. —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News