POPE FRANCIS' PASTORAL VISIT IN THE PHILIPPINES

This picture is through the courtesy of the Yahoo News

His Holiness Pope Francis had at last arrived in the Philippines at 5:31 P.M. of January 15, 2015 as part of his January 15-19, 2015 Philippine pastoral visit. The whole country rejoiced as roads were closed and major transport facilities like the Metro Rail Transit and the Light Railway Transit in Metro Manila were shut down one hour before the plane he was boarding touched down the Villamore Airbase. All flights of that same time were cancelled and rescheduled just to make sure that the Holy Pontiff was safe in his arrival at Villamor Airbase. Classes were all suspended and the weekdays of January 15, 16 & 19, 2015 were declared holidays.

The huge crowd outside Manila Cathedral waiting for the Pope to appear at the Church's main door

Indeed, Filipinos counted the event as such a historical one as the country is noted having more than 80% Catholics. The preparation was that big and almost everybody wanted to see the Holy Father in person.

Outside Manila Cathedral where huge crowd attended his holy mass

The Philippine Government highly worked on the security of the Pope. In fact, thousands of police officers and military staff served as the frontliners wherever the Holy See goes.

Just one of the tanks stationed near the Manila Cathedral

The crowd management system was highly organized to avoid casualties and huge crowd reaching to millions will surge along the streets and landmarks where the Pope is expected to pass.

The Red Cross Volunteers stationed in Intramuros near Manila Cathedral

The Red Cross Organization in Manila was very active to address the mass casualty incidents which might result in this huge crowd of people. They were all installed in specific venues where the Pope was expected to be there, namely: The Malacanang Palace, The Manila Cathedral, The Mall of Asia, University of Santo Tomas and in Tacloban City.

For a comprehensive update, you may check on this link for the activities of Pope Francis in the Philippines.

An up-close shot of Pope Francis along Roxas Boulevard corner Buendia Avenue in Pasay City, Philippines on his way to SM Arena dated January 16, 2015 as captured by Richard Macasero