Pope Francis spends second night in Manila at Apostolic Nunciature

By ANDREI MEDINA, GMA News

Published January 16, 2015 7:46pm

After spending time with Filipino families and celebrating his first mass in the Philippines at the Manila Cathedral on Friday, Pope Francis finally called it a day and retired to the Papal Nunciature in Manila for his second night in the country.

The 78-year-old pontiff and Vatican head of state led the motorcade aboard an open Popemobile after coming from the Mall of Asia where he interacted with Filipino families.

Pope Francis, who is following a tight and demanding daily itinerary with the earliest engagement set at 9 a.m., was still seen waving at the vast crowds waiting to get a glimpse of him.

His convoy arrived at the Papal Nunciature at around 7:30 p.m.

Even though the pope was thirty minutes late for his expected arrival at the nunciature, scores of people still eagerly waited for him.

Thousands of Filipinos were still at the intersection of Quirino and Taft Avenues even though many others dispersed and went home.

Earlier, the pope visited Malacañang Palace to meet with President Benigno Aquino III and other government officials. He then went to the Manila Cathedral where he celebrated his first mass in the Philippines.

At around 5:30 p.m. he arrived at the MOA complex where he displayed the “mercy and compassion” theme of his papal visit by reaching out to Filipino families.

On Saturday, Pope Francis will fly to Tacloban where he will be with the victims of Typhoon Yolanda, which killed thousands and displaced countless others in 2013.

Among the higlights of his Tacloban visit will be an ntimate lunch with select Yolanda survivors there.

Pope Francis will be in the country until Jan. 19. — JDS, GMA News

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