Papal mass communicants passed hosts to back of long queues

On Sunday afternoon, millions of Filipinos got soaked under the rain just to attend Pope Francis' concluding Mass at the Quirino Grandstand. Instead of the difficult situation they were in, they still practiced "bayanihan," the Filipino brand of helping one another.

 

A report on 24 Oras on Monday said that during the communion part of the celebration, the attendees passed communion host for those who were at the back of the crowd pf mass-goers.  

 

While the papal visit organizers have assigned priests and lay people to help keep the communion part of the Mass organized, the rain made it more difficult for them to reach those at the farthest parts of the park. 

 

According to MMDA, there were around six million Filipinos--mostly in their raincoats--who attended Pope Francis' mass.

Vatican Press Office director Fr. Federico Lombardi also said during a news conference on Sunday after the Mass that Philippine officials that there were six to seven million people at Luneta and surrounding areas.

He also said that the event may be the biggest pope event in history, if the number is verified. 



Homily 

 

In his homily on Sunday, Pope Francis reminded the attendees that they were all "God's children."

 

"He reminds us of our deepest identity, of what we are called to be as God’s family," he said. 

 

He also reiterated his earlier point during his encounter with families about protecting families, children, and life. 

 

"He 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," he said. 

 

"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," Pope Francis added. 

 

Pope Francis left for the Vatican via a Philippine Airlines flight. —Trisha Macas/NB, GMA News