Which is better: 40 elephants or 40 Jesuits?

MANILA, Philippines - Pope Francis pulled another surprise on his second day in the Philippines when he met with Jesuit priests at the Apostolic Nunciature last night.

In a press conference, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi said Pope Francis – a Jesuit himself – met with 40 Jesuits from various Jesuit universities, seminaries and ministries across the country.

Earlier in the day, the pope made an unscheduled visit to an orphanage near the Manila Cathedral.

Among the Jesuits who met with the pope were Father Provincial Antonio Moreno, Ateneo de Manila University president Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, former Ateneo president Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, Fr. Xavier Alpasa and Fr. Celerino Reyes.

During the meeting, the Filipino Jesuits jokingly told the pope, “You were greeted by 40 elephants in Sri Lanka. Now you have 40 Jesuits.”

The pope joked back that the elephants were better dressed, drawing laughter.

During his visit to Sri Lanka on the first leg of his Asian tour, the pontiff was greeted near the airport by 40 elephants draped in colorful traditional costumes.