Crowds gather anew in front Nunciature for Pope’s return

Hundreds of people began lining up the streets of Manila Saturday noon in anticipation of Pope Francis' earlier than expected arrival back in Manila from his trip in Leyte.

 

As early as 12 noon, people were trooping along Quirino Avenue and Taft Avenue, the expected route of Pope Francis' convoy going to the Apostolic Nunciature or his official residence in the country.

 

Occasional drizzles were experienced by the crowd but this did not them from leaving their post to get a good view of the charismatic pope.

 

Some young students were chanting "Bienvenido Papa Francesco!" while holding banners that read "We love you Lolo Kiko!"

 

Animal lover Nice Rodriguez, who was leaving a few blocks away from the Nunciature, brought her dog with her to get a blessing from the Pope.

 

"Sinama ko itong si Poypoy (name of her dog) para ma-bless din siya. Alam ko na itong si Pope Francis ay animal lover din," Rodriguez said.

 

With birth name Jose Mario Bergolio,     the 78-year-old Archbishop from Agentina chose the name Francis upon his proclamation as the new pope in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology.

 

Rodriguez even bought a white t-shirt bearing a photo of Pope Francis from a stall nearby as a souvenir shirt for her beloved pet.

 

"Personally, ang touching para sakin is the Pope's genuine concern for the poor and to our mother nature. Talagang ramdam mo yung pagnanais niya na mapalapit sa mahihirap," Rodriguez said.

 

Meanwhile, road sweepers from the DSWD's "Pantawid Pamilya Program" who were deployed in the area to maintain cleanliness, also cannot contain their excite for the passing of the Popemobile on their post.

 

"Kahit nung Thursday pa padaan-daan dito yung convoy niya, everytime paparating na sobrang excited parin kami. Iba sa pakiramdam, para kang naiiyak sa saya," said 53-year-old Antonio Hesita.

 

"Yung kasing pagmamahal niya samin na mahihirap ramdam namin. Yung pag unat nga niya ng kamay niya, sobra-sobra, parang gusto niya kaming abutin. Ano ba yan, naiiyak ako," said 25-year-old street-sweeper Benjie Litana teary-eyed.

 

Pope Francis is expected to arrive back in Manila at around 2 pm, much earlier than the original schedule of his arrival. —NB, GMA News