Tacloban trip included many firsts for Pope Francis – Cardinal Tagle

Though it was an abbreviated Leyte trip for Pope Francis, it was also full of new experiences for the 78-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church.

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In undelivered speech, pope thanks Yolanda rescue, relief workers

In an undelivered speech, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to those who helped the areas hit by Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.

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No mobile phone signals Sunday at the Luneta – security advisory

Pilgrims can expect zero mobile phone signals Sunday at the Luneta when millions of people gather for the Catholic mass Pope Francis will preside over.

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INFOGRAPHIC: Highlights of the third day of Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines

Here are the highlights of the third day of Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines, at a glance.

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Pope Francis calms tense passengers on bumpy return to Manila

Pope Francis and his fellow passengers on the papal flight went through even stronger turbulence on the return flight to Manila from his visit to Yolanda-hit areas in Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte on Saturday, GMA News’ Kara David has reported.

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Yolanda survivors’ stories reduced Pope to silence—Cardinal Tagle

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said on Saturday that Pope Francis told him that the stories of the survivors of super typhoon Yolanda had an intense impact on Pope Francis, even after his interaction with them was cut short by an oncoming storm.

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Pope Francis to Yolanda survivors: God makes things new

A threatening storm forced Pope Francis to leave his meeting with survivors of super typhoon Yolanda much earlier than scheduled but the pontiff still managed to impart his message of hope to those left behind in Leyte and nearby areas.

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‘Everyone's involved’ as UST prepares for 4th papal visit

The University of Santo Tomas is no stranger to papal visits, having been graced three times by two popes in the last 45 years.

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FULL TEXT: Cruz family's testimony on PWDs at the Encounter with Families

I am Renato G. Cruz. I am with my wife, Anastacia, and my children, Zernice Anne, Reanne, Jeizel Ann, and Azrick-Jon. My wife and I are deaf, but my children are hearing.

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PHOTO GALLERY: Pope Francis' third day in the Philippines

Pope Francis traveled to Leyte on the third day of his visit to the Philippines. While his trip was shortened because of weather condition, the Pope still managed to touch the hearts of Yolanda survivors with his short visit.

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FULL TEXT: Dizon family's testimony on poverty at the Encounter with Families

We are the Dizon Family and we live in Barangay Krus Na Ligas, Quezon City, a small community with a big population, living a simple life.

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Pope’s 3rd Filipino tweet: God’s compassion gives meaning to our struggles

During the third day of his stay in the country, Pope Francis posted his third tweet in Filipino while at his official residence at the Apostolic Nunciature on Saturday evening.

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FULL TEXT: Welcome message of Bishop Gabriel Reyes at the Encounter with the Families

Our wages are not enough. Our backs are aching from working all day in foreign lands. Our children are hungry and we have none to feed them. We have not seen our children for years. We look for happiness in drugs and alcohol.

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Leyte folk still found comfort in Pope Francis despite shortened visit –Church official

TACLOBAN CITY — Pope Francis' visit to Leyte may be shorter than what was originally intended, but his message nevertheless brought comfort to the residents — most if not all of them disaster survivors — who've been eagerly awaiting his arrival for months.

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Coast Guard: 11,289 stranded due to Amang

At least 11,289 passengers were stranded in various major ports as of Saturday noon due to Tropical Storm Amang, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

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INTERACTIVE MAP: Public advisory on Luneta, UST routes for papal visit

On the fourth day of Pope Francis' five-day visit to the Philippines, he is scheduled to meet with religious leaders at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, and officiate a Mass at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park. Here are two infographics to guide those who want to attend the events.

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Devotee on seeing Pope Francis in person: ‘Daig pa ang tumama sa Sweepstakes’

Long walks, standing for hours, jostling for a better view — the experience may be gruelling, but fatigue was the last thing on the mind of those who trooped to areas surrounding the sprawling SM MOA in Pasay City on Friday afternoon to witness Pope Francis in person.

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Pope Francis back at Nunciature after shortened Leyte visit

Pope Francis returned to the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila at 2:55 p.m. Saturday, after his visit to Leyte was cut short by Tropical Storm Amang (Mekkhala).

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Pope Francis poses for selfie after returning to Manila

Pope Francis posed for a selfie upon his return to Manila, after his visit to Leyte province was cut short due to Tropical Storm Amang.

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Pope en route to Nunciature after shortened Leyte trip

Pope Francis started his closed-vehicle motorcade from Col. Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City to the Apostolic Nunciature on Saturday afternoon.

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PNP: More ‘frivolous’ security checks before Pope’s Luneta Mass due to expected rains

More “frivolous” security checks will be conducted at the Rizal Park on Sunday before Pope Francis’ Mass due to expected rains brought by Tropical Storm Amang, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Saturday.

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Pope receives image of Immaculate Conception made from Palo Cathedral's debris

In his visit to the Palo Cathedral on Saturday, Pope Francis, a known Marian devotee, was gifted an image of the Immaculate Conception made from the debris of the church that suffered massive damage from super typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

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Leyte solon heard tire burst before plane skidded on Tacloban runway

One of the passengers of the light plane that skidded on the runway of the Tacloban airport said he heard what seemed like an explosion on one of the tires before the mishap.

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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.

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No plans yet for Pope Francis with idle time back in Manila

With Tropical Storm Amang cutting short his trip in Leyte province, what will Pope Francis be doing with three extra hours in Manila? Apparently, there are no plans yet.

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Public advised to prepare for rain during Pope’s activities in UST, Luneta

The public should prepare for inclement weather during Pope Francis’ activities at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Rizal Park on Sunday due to Tropical Storm Amang, a government official said Saturday.

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After lunch with calamity survivors, Pope boards Popemobile

After an early lunch with survivors of recent calamities at the Archbishop's Residence in Palo town in Leyte, Pope Francis again boarded his Popemobile shortly after noon Saturday.

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Pope stops by a Tacloban home during motorcade

As his motorcade made its way to the town of Palo, Pope Francis on Saturday took a quick stop to visit a home of a family in Tacloban City.

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Pope arrives early at Palo Archbishop’s Residence

Pope Francis arrived at the Archbishop's Residence in Palo town in Leyte before noon Saturday ahead of schedule.

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FULL TEXT: Pope Francis’ homily in Tacloban Mass

The full text of Pope Francis' homily during the Mass in Tacloban City on Saturday, Jan. 17.

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NCRPO: Weather considerations prompt Pope Francis to leave Leyte 1 p.m.

Pope Francis is to return to Metro Manila earlier than scheduled from Leyte due to weather considerations, the Metro Manila police said Saturday morning.

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Pope surprises pilgrims in Tacloban, goes around Mass area in Popemobile

TACLOBAN CITY – At the end of the Mass he celebrated at the airport here, Pope Francis surprised pilgrims as he went around the area aboard his Popemobile.

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Coast Guard: 6,483 stranded due to Amang

At least 6,483 passengers were stranded as of Saturday morning due to bad weather conditions from Tropical Storm Amang (Mekkhala), the Philippine Coast Guard said.

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After condoling with Yolanda survivors, Pope starts motorcade to Palo, Leyte

After condoling with survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) during a Mass in Tacloban City, Pope Francis started his motorcade to Palo town on Saturday morning.

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Pope Francis consoles Yolanda victims: We are not alone

TACLOBAN CITY -- The Lord is with you. Pope Francis in his Mass here at the Daniel Romualdez International Airport on Saturday consoled victims of super typhoon Yolanda. "Jesus understands because he also underwent all the trials you have also underwent," the Pope said in Spanish. "Jesus never lets you down."

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A rough and bumpy ride for Pope Francis to Leyte

Pope Francis had a rough and bumpy ride on his way to Leyte early Saturday morning due to the inclement weather prevailing in the province, a television report said.

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Pope Francis reaches out, receives reporter Jiggy Manicad’s rosary

Unmindful of drizzles, Pope Francis stretched out his arm from his moving vehicle to receive a small offering from GMA News' reporter Jiggy Manicad in Tacloban City on Saturday.

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Pope dons raincoat as he pushes through with motorcade at Tacloban airport

Despite bad weather, Pope Francis waved to well-wishers and pushed through with a motorcade almost immediately after arriving in Tacloban City.

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Pope shakes hands with well-wishers upon arriving at Tacloban airport

Despite rainy weather, Pope Francis boarded a Popemobile and touched base with some well-wishers almost immediately after arriving in Tacloban City.

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LOOK: ‘Hug me!’ ‘Kiss me!’ young bystanders along papal route in Manila ask Pope in makeshift signs

A group of sign-bearing youths and children joined the throngs of well-wishers who saw Pope Francis off to Leyte province early Saturday, asking him to kiss or hug them.

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Amid inclement weather, Pope arrives in Leyte for Yolanda, quake survivors

Finally, the long wait is over. Pope Francis arrived in Tacloban City to a warm welcome from the faithful who have been waiting for days for his arrival amid rain and inclement weather due to Tropical Storm Amang (Mekkhala).

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MIAA: 6 flights canceled due to bad weather

At least six domestic flights were canceled Saturday due to bad weather, the Manila International Airport Authority said.

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NDRRMC: 42,500 lined welcome route for Pope Francis in Manila on Jan. 15

More than 42,000 Filipinos lined the welcome route for Pope Francis upon his arrival in the Philippines on Jan. 15 for a five-day visit, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said late Friday.

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Pope approaches well-wisher before leaving for Leyte

Before boarding a Philippine Airlines flight that would take him to Leyte, Pope Francis on Saturday morning approached and touched a 49-year-old well-wisher.

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Pope leaves for Leyte to comfort Typhoon Haiyan survivors

Pope Francis left the Apostolic Nunciature Saturday morning, heading for the Villamor Air Base for his flight to Tacloban City, Leyte, ignoring a Public Storm Signal Number 2 raised over the province.

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LOOK: Pinoys ignore rain, trek to Tacloban to see Pope

Ignoring the rainy weather, the Catholic faithful in Leyte made their way to Tacloban City early Saturday morning for Pope Francis' Mass at the city's airport.

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Cops, soldiers guard pope's route from Nunciature to Villamor Air Base

Additional police personnel and soldiers were deployed early Saturday to guard Pope Francis' route from the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, for the Leyte leg of his five-day Philippine visit.

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Pope meets Philippine Jesuit priests

Pope Francis - the first Jesuit to become the Catholic Church's head - met with 40 Filipino Jesuits at the Apostolic Nunciature on Taft Avenue in Manila Friday evening .

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FULL TEXT: Pope Francis' speech at the Meeting with the Families

Let us reflect on what the Lord is saying to us, especially in this evening’s Gospel. There are three aspects of this passage which I would ask you to consider: resting in the Lord, rising with Jesus and Mary, and being a prophetic voice.

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Tagle takes PNoy political jabs in stride, urges Pinoys to keep focus on papal visit

"While the speech of the President is important. I hope we don't lose our focus on the Pope, because the Pope will only be here for a few days, while the President stays," said Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said Friday in an effort keep news media sights on the papal visit instead of politics.

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