Thousands of the faithful wait in the rain at Rizal Park where Pope Francis will celebrate his final Mass in Manila. (AP photo)
Manila:
Officials say some 3 million people have gathered in a Manila park and surrounding areas for Pope Francis' final Mass.
Francis Tolentino, chairman of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, gave the estimate as of 1 p.m., with two hours to go, and said more people are streaming into the area.
Organizers expect as many as 6 million people might attend the service, surpassing the 5 million record set by St. John Paul II at the same Rizal Park in 1995.
Francis, meanwhile, spent some of his down time on Sunday consoling the father of a Catholic volunteer killed while helping organize the pope's Mass in Tacloban on Saturday. The Vatican says Francis met for about 20 minutes with the girl's father at the Vatican embassy.
Francis Tolentino, chairman of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, gave the estimate as of 1 p.m., with two hours to go, and said more people are streaming into the area.
Organizers expect as many as 6 million people might attend the service, surpassing the 5 million record set by St. John Paul II at the same Rizal Park in 1995.
Francis, meanwhile, spent some of his down time on Sunday consoling the father of a Catholic volunteer killed while helping organize the pope's Mass in Tacloban on Saturday. The Vatican says Francis met for about 20 minutes with the girl's father at the Vatican embassy.
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