EDITORIAL - A warm, safe welcome for Pope Francis

Popes have always enjoyed superstar status approaching divinity in this predominantly Catholic country. This is reinforced by the fact that numerous popes – the latest being John Paul II – have been elevated to or are candidates for sainthood.

Devout Catholics consider it the privilege of a lifetime to be in the presence of the pope. If the image of the Black Nazarene can command a mammoth crowd during its annual procession, the turnout for a mass celebrated by the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics is expected to be larger.

An even more exuberant welcome is expected for Pope Francis when he arrives in Manila this evening for the final leg of his two-nation Asian trip. The former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, archbishop of Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires, has won the hearts of the devout and doubters alike with his emphasis on the need to return to the basic teachings of the Roman Catholic faith.

His call for the Catholic clergy to live simply resonates particularly among those disenchanted by the scandals that continue to rock this Church, including sexual abuse of minors, corruption and financial mismanagement in the Vatican. Pope Francis is effective because he leads by example and practices what he preaches, eschewing the pomp and trappings of his position.

Filipinos are expected to welcome Pope Francis with arms wide open. Among the biggest concerns of security officials is that the welcome will be so wildly enthusiastic the pontiff will be crushed by adoring crowds.

For millions, the most prized memento of this historic visit will be a selfie with the pontiff. Obviously, even if the pope likes mingling with the crowd wherever he goes, most of the millions expected to welcome him will not get the chance to see him up close.

Devotees must ensure that there is sufficient crowd discipline to keep Pope Francis safe and comfortable throughout his visit. The pontiff has sent word that he wants to wade into the crowd, and has refused to move around in bulletproof vehicles, preferring to entrust his safety to the faithful. We must prove ourselves worthy of that trust.