Millions expected at Pope Francis’ Rizal Park mass

MANILA, Philippines - Between four to six million people are expected to attend the mass of Pope Francis at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila’s Rizal Park on Jan. 18.

Ambassador Marciano Paynor, a member of the papal visit central committee, told Catholic Church-run Radio Veritas they are expecting people to fill the streets around Rizal Park during the mass.

The figure does not include the “curious” who would line the streets of Manila during the papal motorcade, Paynor said.

One of the challenges confronting papal visit organizers is that people might force their way to see Francis and put his safety at risk, the former Philippine ambassador to Tel Aviv, Israel said.

Paynor also assisted in the preparation for Pope John Paul II’s visit for World Youth Day in 1995. Guinness World Records recognized the event as the “largest papal crowd in history.”

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. has assured the public that the government is making all necessary preparations to ensure the safety of Francis in the country.

The apostolic visit, “Mercy and Compassion” is scheduled from Jan. 15 to 19.

Catholic Church officials predict that the visit will give Filipino Catholics a much-needed spiritual transformation.

Archbishop of Manila Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said the Catholic Church does not have a target figure of people who will be attending the mass.

“We are not giving some sort of a figure that we aim to reach, but definitely people are being asked to prepare spiritually for the visit even those who could not come to Palo (Leyte), Tacloban or the events in Manila,” he said. “They can follow the events in their homes, through the radio, through the media coverage.”

Cathedral mass

The Manila Cathedral has started preparations for the mass of Pope Francis on Jan. 16.

Monsignor Nestor Cerbo, rector of the Manila Cathedral, said Francis will celebrate mass for representatives of the religious and church workers at 11:15 a.m. at the cathedral.

The Manila Cathedral can accommodate two thousand people, he added.

Cerbo said they are tuning the pipe organ for this historic event. “It is being overhauled now,” he said.

“The songs are not in Latin. I am not sure, but they are not in Latin. I think they are even in different dialects so there would be portions in Cebuano and others,” he said.

Cerbo said Francis prefers to deliver the mass in Latin, but that the homily might be in English.

“He is more familiar with Latin,” he said.

Cerbo said every minute counts, and they would be constantly monitoring the time.

“So if the mass would be done in English, it might be difficult for him,” he said. “If he speaks in Latin, it would be faster. But the reply in the mass would be in English.”

The monsignor said they have formed committees to handle the physical arrangements and health services like putting an ambulance on standby and setting up a first aid station. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe