Pope Francis on his way to Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - Pope Francis has left Sri Lanka and is now on his way to the Philippines for a five-day state and apostolic visit.

Live television footage showed the pontiff boarding the plane that was set to depart for Manila before noon.

Pope Francis is expected to arrive at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at 5:45 p.m.

President Aquino and some members of his Cabinet are set to welcome the pope.

The pontiff will then have a motorcade to his official residence at the Apostolic Nunciature on Taft Avenue in Manila.

Pope Francis is heading for the Philippines where adoring crowds await his arrival as the first pope to visit the predominantly Catholic nation in 20 years.

The government has declared national holidays during his visit, which runs through the weekend.

During his time in Sri Lanka, he traveled to the jungles of war-torn north for a show of solidarity with the victims of the country's 25-year civil war, urging people to forgive one another "for all the evil which this land has known."

The pope's trip is giving Philippine authorities daunting security challenges, including an outdoor Mass on Sunday that could draw a record 6 million people.

Francis also plans to visit Tacloban, which devastated by a typhoon in 2013. -with AP

The Pope has boarded his plane! Get ready Pilipinas! #PapalVisitPH

— Papal Visit 2015 (@papalvisitph) January 15, 2015

#PopeFrancis has officially boarded the plane from Colombo to Manila #PopeinSL #PopeInPH

— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) January 15, 2015

The plane has taken off, and #PopeFrancis is now on his way to the #Philippines #PopeInPH

— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) January 15, 2015