4 to 6 million expected at Pope Francis’ Luneta mass

Organizers of Pope Francis' papal visit are bracing for four to six million people at the Mass the pope will lead at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Jan. 18 next year.

 

Former Ambassador to the Holy See Marciano Paynor, a member of the executive committee for the papal visit, gave this estimate in an interview on Church-run Radio Veritas Monday.

 

"Ang estimate nga e four to six million. Hindi lang Luneta kundi maging sa mga kalsada pupunuin 'yan," Paynor said.

 

Pope Francis is due to arrive in the Philippines on Jan. 15 next year.

 

He is to spend four days in Metro Manila and Leyte. In Leyte, he is to visit families affected by recent calamities, including super Typhoon Yolanda.

 

Paynor said the four to six million is aside from the throngs of Filipino faithful expected to line the streets in areas where the Pope is to appear—both in Metro Manila and in Tacloban.

 

Earlier, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. also asked the public for understanding on the security preparations for the papal visit.

 

“Definitely, kasi sa atin ang problema kung paano awatin ang mga kababayan natin na huwag silang sabay-sabay na magpunta sa Papa, pero para sa amin sinisikap natin na matiyak ang kaligtasan ni Pope,” Paynor said. —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News