Basándose en datos empíricos, se puede decir que Francisco se ganó el corazón de los pobres y no solo, en su viaje apostólico a Filipinas del 15 al 19 de enero. Para la muestra, entre seis y siete millones de personas presenciaron la última misa del Papa en Manila. En situaciones extremas, la multitud siguió a Francisco desafiando lluvia, viento y barro en el Rizal Park en Manila. Este ha sido el evento más multitudinario que jamás un Pontífice haya presidido.
Con Francisco era la cuarta vez que un Papa visitaba Filipinas, el único país de Asia junto a Timor Est con una mayoría de población católica. El 80% de los filipinos siguen la Santa Romana Iglesia. Pablo VI hace 45 años pisó tierra filipina, sucesivamente Juan Pablo II en 1981 y en 1995.
Imágenes de un viaje histórico
Pope Francis (C) is greeted by Philippine Cardinal Luis Tagle during a welcome ceremony shortly after arriving at a military air base in Manila on January 15, 2015. Pope Francis arrived in the Philippines on January 15 for the second leg of an Asian tour that organisers believe could see a world-record crowd turn out for a papal mass. AFP PHOTO / PHOTO/TED ALJIBE
Priests take pictures of Pope Francis (R) during a mass at Manila Cathedral on January 16, 2015. Pope Francis is on a five-day visit to the Philippines. AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE
People smile as they wait outside the presidential Malacanang Palace for Pope Francis during his visit to Manila on January 16, 2015. Pope Francis is on a five-day visit to the Philippines. AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE
This handout picture released by the Vatican press office (Osservatore Romano) shows Pope Francis meeting children at an event in Manila on January 16, 2015.
Pope Francis attends a meeting with families in Manila on January 16, 2015. Pope Francis is on a five-day visit to the Philippines. AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE
Well-wishers wear plastic ponchos as they wait in the rain ahead of a mass scheduled to be held by Pope Francis in Tacloban on January 17, 2015. Pope Francis will spend an emotional day in the Philippines on January 17 with survivors of a catastrophic super typhoon that claimed thousands of lives, highlighting his concern over climate change. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE
Pope Francis wears a plastic poncho as he waves to well wishers after a mass in Tacloban on January 17, 2015. Pope Francis will spend an emotional day in the Philippines on January 17 with survivors of a catastrophic super typhoon that claimed thousands of lives, highlighting his concern over climate change. AFP PHOTO / Jay DIRECTO
Pope Francis embraces a child during his visit to the University of Santo Tomas in Manila on January 18, 2015. Pope Francis will celebrate mass with millions in the Philippine capital on January 18 in what could be the world’s biggest papal gathering, capping off a dramatic trip in the Catholic Church’s Asian heartland. AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE
This view shows millions and millions of faithful attending a mass held by Pope Francis at a park in Manila on January 18, 2015. Pope Francis celebrated mass with millions of singing and cheering Catholics in the Philippine capital on January 18, in one of the world’s biggest outpourings of papal devotion. AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE
This handout picture taken on January 18, 2015 and released on January 19 by the Vatican press office (Osservatore Romano) shows Pope Francis (C) at an event.
Pope Francis waves to the crowd before he boards his plane during a departure ceremony at Villamor Airbase in Manila on January 19, 2015. Pope Francis flew back to Rome on January 19 after a dramatic week in Asia that saw him draw record crowds and hammer home his pro-poor message to millions. AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS
(Han colaborado en este servicio Jeffrey Bruno y AWR)
Hoy celebramos a...