Pope waves to thousands on way to Malacañang

Pope Francis. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Pope Francis has left the Apostolic Nunciature Friday morning for Malacañang, where he will be officially received by President Aquino.

The Pope left the Nunciature, his residence during his five-day apostolic and state visit to the Philippines.

His Holiness took an ordinary closed vehicle, a Volkswagen station wagon, but did not disappoint the thousands of Filipinos who waited outside the Nunciature and the roads after the Vicar of Christ rolled down his window to wave at the crowd.

The pontiff will be paying a courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino III and meet the diplomatic corps in Malacañang.

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, told reporters on Thursday night that the first public statement of the Pope’s visit would be at the Malacañang.

Later in the day, the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics will celebrate Mass at the Manila Cathedral, and lead the “Encounter with Families” at the Mall of Asia Arena. Pope Francis is also expected to make two other “important public statements” in these events.

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