Palo Church readies 1 million raincoats

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines–The Archdiocese of Palo has prepared a million transparent raincoats or ponchos that will be distributed to pilgrims in case it rains during the open air Mass to be officiated by Pope Francis at the apron of Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport here on Saturday.

Anticipating it will rain in Leyte province due to an approaching storm, Fr. Amadeo Alvero, Palo archdiocese communications director, said the Church prepared for distribution of raincoats that came from donors.

Alvero said there could be some changes or delays in the Pope’s schedule because of the storm.

“So far, everything is all set,” he said. “There will be ponchos to be distributed at the Mass site for our pilgrims,” Alvero said.

Umbrellas are prohibited during the Mass, which is scheduled to start at 10 a.m., both for security reasons and to ensure the solemnity of the occasion.

On Wednesday, a dry run was conducted by those involved in the Pope’s visit in Leyte. The activities include Mass in Tacloban and the 12-kilometer motorcade route from the Tacloban airport to the Archbishop’s Palace in Palo town. Security personnel composed of both the police and the Army conducted their simulation along the route.

Swiss guards

Swiss guards are already at the Archbishop’s Residence where Francis will have lunch with 30 survivors of last year’s supertyphoon and earthquake.

The Mass site will be opened for pilgrims at 6 p.m. on Friday and will be closed at 6 a.m. on Saturday, four hours before the Mass. Those who registered with their respective parishes will be given priority getting to the site.

At least 71,331 people from the Palo archdiocese’s 78 parishes have already registered for the event.

Those who do not have tickets issued by their parishes can still enter the Mass site but only after they are frisked by the security personnel, said Archbishop John Du of Palo. The organizers have projected about 150,000 people at the Mass site.