ABOARD SHEPHERD ONE - Pope Francis said on Monday the gestures of the Filipino nation had profoundly affected him and had made him feel like a humble servant. Speaking to journalists onboard the papal plane, Pope Francis said that the genuine show of affection that he had received from the millions of people who had attended events during his four day trip had deeply moved him.

 

"The gestures, the gestures I was so moved by. They weren't gestures of protocol, polite gestures, they were heartfelt gestures," he said.

 

"The gesture which really moved me, was an enthusiasm that wasn't fake. The joy, the lightheartedness, a capacity to enjoy themselves together, " he said.

 

Pope Francis said he had been profoundly moved by the mass held in Tacloban, the location where typhoon Yolanda had hit in 2013 killing over 6,000 people.

 

"The mass at Tacloban was emotional, very emotional to see all God's people standing there, praying after this catastrophe. I thought of my sins and those people, it was very strong, a very moving moment," he said.

 

On Sunday (January 18) the pope celebrated mass in front of some six million people in Manila, surpassing the number of 4 million people who had attended a mass in 1995 with Pope John Paul II.

 

Asked how he felt when standing in front of such a crowd. The pope said he felt quite small.

 

"God's people, the people were there in the joy of God's presence, and He told told us (priests) you think hard about the fact that you are the servants of these people, these people are the protagonists."

 

City officials said some 4 million people were in Manila's Rizal Park attending the mass and more in surrounding areas to witness the event that capped Francis's week-long trip to Asia. — Reuters