IN PHOTOS: Kara David covers Pope Francis from Rome to Sri Lanka

Published January 14, 2015 9:58pm

As the Philippines enthusiastically prepares to welcome Pope Francis, the wait is over for Sri Lanka. Thousands of devotees greeted the Pope as he set foot in the first stop of his Asian journey this year.

As one of the privileged journalists to share the flight with the pontiff, GMA reporter Kara David documented the experience: from being on board with the pope and camping out with Sri Lankans, to the canonization of their first saint, Joseph Vaz. Many of the photos feature the faces she encountered in the crowd — old people, children, missionaries, as well as Pinoys who flew in to witness the occasion.

With journalists before the flight from Rome to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka bound! Papal Flight 14. @lyndajumilla @carlalimnews5 @piahontiveros @gaston_gd @litozulueta pic.twitter.com/MG608J3JZ3

— Kara David (@karadavid) January 12, 2015

On board with the Pope

Pope greets Filipino priest @gaston_gd while on board the papal plane en route to sri lanka pic.twitter.com/B5H7nNQFTF

— Kara David (@karadavid) January 13, 2015

late post: on board the Papal plane with @piahontiveros and @carlalimnews5 thank you @gaston_gd for the photo pic.twitter.com/JJrre8Xfux

— Kara David (@karadavid) January 14, 2015

Sri Lanka greets the pope

500k devotees greet pope francis in sri lanka pic.twitter.com/fy34g4kEP6

— Kara David (@karadavid) January 14, 2015

Old people, sick children and disabled were each greeted and embraced by pope francis before his mass in Sri Lanka pic.twitter.com/c0VYDJ8Oz6

— Kara David (@karadavid) January 14, 2015

Sri Lankans camped out in Galle Face Green since last night as they eagerly wait for Pope Francis pic.twitter.com/pecdvJ0Umf

— Kara David (@karadavid) January 14, 2015

19yr old Dulajalee was born without arms and legs. She was one of the persons embraced by Pope Francis in Sri Lanka pic.twitter.com/HBtLGUEqNF

— Kara David (@karadavid) January 14, 2015

With Pinoys in Sri Lanka

Filipino missionary nuns in Sri Lanka wave flags as Pope Francis passes by pic.twitter.com/MRjgxRsgk4

— Kara David (@karadavid) January 14, 2015

OFWs in Sri Lanka happily greet the Pope in Galle Face Green for the canonization of Sri Lanka's 1st saint Joseph Vaz pic.twitter.com/k269xYSUkz

— Kara David (@karadavid) January 14, 2015

Pinoys in Sri Lanka. waiting for the Pope to arrive. Some of them even flew here to get a glimpse of Pope Francis pic.twitter.com/Ecu812yxNz

— Kara David (@karadavid) January 14, 2015

Canonization of Sri Lanka's first saint Joseph Vaz

OFWs in Sri Lanka happily greet the Pope in Galle Face Green for the canonization of Sri Lanka's 1st saint Joseph Vaz pic.twitter.com/k269xYSUkz

— Kara David (@karadavid) January 14, 2015

St Joseph Vaz: the apostle of ceylon was beatified by Pope JohnPaul II in 1995. Now canonized as saint by PopeFrancis pic.twitter.com/SrAkSgrOzs

— Kara David (@karadavid) January 14, 2015

Canonization rites for St joseph vaz. Sri Lanka's first saint pic.twitter.com/WFfETiHsyj

— Kara David (@karadavid) January 14, 2015

Pope attends inter-faith dialogue

The Pope in Orange. Inter-religious dialogue with buddhists, hindu, moslems and christians in Sri Lanka pic.twitter.com/GZj8qY7iRR

— Kara David (@karadavid) January 14, 2015

Pope Francis wearing a Hindu sarong as he addressed Buddhists, Hindu, Moslems and Christians in Sri Lanka last night pic.twitter.com/FTzoQku8Vm

— Kara David (@karadavid) January 14, 2015

Buddhists, Hindu, Christians & Muslims listen to Pope Francis as he prays for harmony among religions in Sri Lanka pic.twitter.com/UMF44GJyA7

— Kara David (@karadavid) January 14, 2015

—Jessica Bartolome/JST, GMA News

Tags: karadavid, popefrancis, papalvisit2015