Pope Francis ‘very, very happy’ with PHL visit, says Aquino

As he led the send-off for Pope Francis on Monday, President Benigno Aquino III said the pontiff told him he was "very, very happy" with the warmth and love he received throughout his five-day visit.

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Pope Francis boards Shepherd One at 9:49 a.m. Jan. 19 as Pinoys sing

Led by former street children, Filipinos on Monday bid farewell to Pope Francis before he boarded a chartered Philippine Airlines flight back to Rome.

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Pope makes final motorcade stop, blessing before entering Villamor

Before entering the military airbase where he would take his flight home Monday, Pope Francis' motorcade made a final stop so he could bless Filipinos lining the route.

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People wave Vatican flags at Pope as he leaves Nunciature en route to Villamor

The sight of enthusiastic Filipinos waving Vatican flags would be among the last fond memories for Pope Francis of his 2015 Philippine visit as he left the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila Monday morning.

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Cyclone Amang makes 4th landfall in Aurora

Tropical Cyclone Amang (Mekkhala) made a fourth landfall before dawn Monday, state weather agency PAGASA said.

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Well-wishers fill Villamor Air Base tarmac to say goodbye to Pope

Well-wishers began to fill the tarmac of Villamor Air Base early Monday to say goodbye to Pope Francis, hours before his scheduled departure to Rome.

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440 ex-street children to perform for pope before he leaves

More than 400 former street children will have a special performance for Pope Francis before he leaves for Rome Monday morning.

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Tagle: Pope likes jeepney popemobile

When Pope Francis went out of the Apostolic Nunciature Sunday afternoon for his concluding Mass at the Quirino Grandstand, he was on board a jeepney-inspired popemobile. Filipinos liked it, and so did the pontiff.

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2 dead from TS Amang – NDRRMC

The death toll from Tropical Storm Amang rose to two according to a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council report issued Sunday night.

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Pope Francis ‘forever etched in Filipinos’ hearts and minds’

Pope Francis is departing for Rome on Monday morning, leaving behind a people with a message of mercy and compassion that a priest said should last "a lifetime."

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LIVE UPDATES: Papal Visit PH 2015 - Day 5

Pope Francis is on his way back to the Vatican after a memorable trip to the Philippines. Check out all the latest updates here.

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Crowds stake out Nunciature on final day of Pope Francis' visit

For the last time, the Catholic faithful trooped to the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila early Sunday for one more glimpse of Pope Francis before he departs for Rome.

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Pope Francis' Luneta Mass drew record crowd of 6-7 million – Vatican

Pope Francis concluded his trip to Asia on Sunday with an open-air Mass for a rain-drenched crowd in Manila that the Vatican and the government said drew up to seven million people, the largest ever for a papal event.

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AFP asks for same respect and cooperation for Pope Francis’ departure

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has already made the proper arrangements in securing Pope Francis during his expected departure from the country on Monday.

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GALLERY: The Filipino Faith Is Waterproof

With rain pouring down on Sunday afternoon, Luneta became a sea of plastic-covered bodies struggling to make their way through the dense crowd and the damp floor.

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Pope Francis' concluding Mass generally peaceful – AFP

Despite the sea of people at the Quirino Grandstand on Sunday to attend the Mass of Pope Francis, the military said the event was generally peaceful and orderly.

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PHOTO GALLERY: Pope Francis in the Philippines Day 4 — UST and Luneta

Pope Francis had a busy slate on the penultimate day of his trip to the Philippines, meeting with the youth at University of Santo Tomas before presiding over Holy Mass at Quirino Grandstand in Luneta.

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FULL TEXT: Pope Francis' undelivered address to young people at UST

Below is Pope Francis' prepared speech for young people at an event at University of Santo Tomas on Sunday. The Vatican Press Office said

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See you next January, Papa Francisco? Pope invited to Cebu confab in 2016

See you next January, Pope Francis?

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Archbishop: Pope Francis our raincoat in the rain, our sunshine when it’s cloudy

Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, in his gratitude message, compared Pope Francis to both a raincoat and sunshine. “You are our friend, our inspiration, our raincoat in the rain and sunshine when it is cloudy. Pope Francis, we love you,” Villegas said Sunday, before Pope Francis gave his final blessing during his concluding Mass at Luneta.

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Ama ng nasawi sa Tacloban papal visit: May kabuluhan ang pagkamatay ng anak ko

Nakipagkita nitong Linggo ang Santo Papa sa ama ng 27-taong-gulang na is Kristel Mae Padasas, ang volunteer na namatay sa isang aksidente sa Tacloban Airport matapos ang Papal mass na ginanap doon noong nakaraang Sabado.

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Why Pope Francis wore an ID at UST event

He may be the head of the Roman Catholic Church, but Pope Francis curiously still wore an identification card for an event at University of Santo Tomas on Sunday morning for his Encounter with the Youth event.

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Crying girl at UST event left ‘speechless’ by Pope’s embrace

Glyzelle Palomar had the fewest words to say to Pope Francis during Sunday's papal event at the University of Santo Tomas, but she was the one who had driven the pontiff to once again deviate from a prepared reply and speak Spanish "from the heart."

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Pa of casualty in papal visit accident: My daughter didn’t die in vain

Pope Francis on Sunday met the father of 27-year-old Kristel Mae Padasas, the woman who died from a freak accident in Tacloban Airport just after a Mass was held there by Pope Francis on Saturday.

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Cardinal Tagle to Pope Francis: Entire nation thanks you

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle once again thanked Pope Francis for his apostolic visit, saying the entire Filipino people will pray for him.

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Some Pinoys not too happy with loud 'cheerleader' at papal Mass in Luneta

While many Filipinos are likely to miss Pope Francis when he leaves for Rome on Monday, not all will miss the barker leading the chants at the Quirino Grandstand where the pope's closing Mass was held.

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After mass, Pope Francis goes around Luneta to bless faithful

After presiding over his concluding Mass at the Quirino Grandstand, Pope Francis went around the Luneta to bless the Filipinos who had gathered there to see him.

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Pope Francis asks Pinoys to work together for peace

Continuing his strong message to the Filipino family and the youth, Pope Francis on Sunday consecrated Pinoy families and communities to Jesus, the Christ Child, asking them work together to build a “world of justice, integrity and peace.”

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Beware of ‘superficial pastimes,’ Pope cautions faithful

Pope Francis had strong words against sin and temptation in his homily on Sunday, during the Mass he officiated at the Quirino Grandstand, describing these as “great threats” to God’s plan.

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FULL TEXT: Pope Francis’ homily in Quirino Grandstand mass

"May the Santo Niño continue to bless the Philippines and to sustain the Christians of this great nation in their vocation to be witnesses and missionaries of the joy of the Gospel, in Asia and in the whole world."

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Pope Francis in Luneta: Our ‘deepest identity’ is as God’s children

Speaking before millions of devotees during his concluding Mass at the Quirino Grandstand on Sunday afternoon, Pope Francis highlighted the Filipinos' special relationship with Sto. Niño, the Christ-child, asking the faithful to embrace the identity of being “God’s children.”

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Straight from the heart: Why Pope Francis deviates from his prepared speeches

Though he had his prepared speeches written in English with him, Pope Francis in several instances during his stay in the country has opted to go off script and delivered his messages to the Filipino faithful spontaneously in Spanish.

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Pope meets father of volunteer who died after Tacloban Mass

Pope Francis on Sunday met with the father of a volunteer who died in an accident shortly after his Mass in Tacloban City on Saturday.

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PNoy joins millions in Pope Francis’ Quirino Grandstand mass

President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday joined millions of Filipinos at the Quirino Grandstand to hear the Holy Mass to be officiated by Pope Francis.

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Listen to women more, don't be macho, Pope tells men

Pope Francis said on Sunday men should listen to women's ideas more and not be male chauvinists.

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PNP: More gates opened in Luneta for papal Mass

Authorities on Sunday opened more entrances to the Luneta Park in Manila after several pilgrims waiting for Pope Francis to officiate a Mass there got hurt because of the shoving and jostling.

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Millions brave storm to hear Pope Francis’ Mass in Luneta

Just hours after delivering yet another message for people to care for the less fortunate, Pope Francis on Sunday afternoon motored to the Quirino Grandstand amid the cheers of millions of rain-drenched Filipinos that gathered for what could be the biggest Holy Mass in the country in decades.

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Pope Francis on way to Luneta in jeepney Popemobile

Pope Francis is on his way to the Luneta for his concluding Mass.

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FULL TEXT: Pope Francis' message to young people at UST

Below are the remarks in full of Pope Francis during his Encounter with the Youth event on Sunday at University of Santo Tomas, with parts spoken in Spanish translated into English.

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UST crowd control for papal encounter didn't work

As soon as Pope Francis entered the UST campus, people started cheering and raising their gadgets to capture the once-in-a-lifetime moment of personally seeing the pope. Those standing behind jeered as those taking photos of the pontiff blocked their view.

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Pit Señor! Luneta crowd practices Sinulog chants while waiting for Pope

Pope Francis' concluding Mass at the Quirino Grandstand on Sunday could have a touch of Sinulog, if the crowds' practices are any indication.

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Groups ask Church to ‘really work with the poor’

In time for the visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines and the Mass he will officiate Sunday afternoon, several groups asked the Catholic Church to truly work with the poor.

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Pope tweets anew in Filipino, urges Pinoys to reach out to the needy

Pope Francis tweeted anew in Filipino shortly after noon Sunday, urging the faithful to reach out to the needy and serve them.

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Beaming Pope Francis serenaded by kids at UST

Just as Pope John Paul II was serenaded by millions of young voices during the 1995 World Youth Day celebration at Luneta with “Tell the World of His Love,” Pope Francis was also treated to the same song during his meeting with the youth in the University of Santo Tomas on Sunday morning.

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Pope poses for selfies after encounter with youths at UST

What could be cooler than a selfie with Pope Francis? A selfie with Pope Francis wearing a yellow raincoat.

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Pope dares Pinoy youth: Learn how to weep for the marginalized

Pope Francis on Sunday challenged the Filipino youth to "learn how to weep" for the poor and the marginalized during his second to the last day of his visit to the Philippines, where a fourth of the population live in poverty.

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Pope pushes for women’s greater role in society, hits culture of machismo

Pope Francis on Sunday pushed for women's greater role in society and crticized the culture of machismo during his encounter with Filipino youth.

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Pope offers prayers for volunteer who died after Tacloban papal Mass

Pope Francis on Sunday offered prayers for the Filipina who died on Saturday after a papal Mass in Tacloban City.

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CBCP exec tells Pope Francis: You are Pinoy youth’s father

An official of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines on Sunday expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for believing the Filipino youth are not just the gems of the world, but also treasures of the world.

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Former streetchildren get hug, rosaries from Pope at UST

In tears, a former street child recounted before Pope Francis her life of poverty, living under a bridge before she was taken in by a non-government organization.

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