Millions prepare to greet Pope in Philippines and Sri Lanka

Pope Francis will immerse himself in some of Asia’s most fervent Catholicism during a trip to the Philippines and Sri Lanka starting Tuesday, with millions of devotees set to turn out. The Argentinian pontiff with a man-of-the-people reputation could attract one of the biggest gatherings ever for a pope during an open-air mass in the Philippine capital of Manila. The January 18 event may draw up to six million people, offering a pulsating example of Asia’s status as a dynamic growth region for the Catholic Church - but also creating a security nightmare.

We are doing everything humanly possible to secure the safety of the pope.

Philippine presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda

The pope’s trip, which begins in Sri Lanka, comes just five months after he visited South Korea, signalling the huge importance the Vatican places on Asia and its potential for more followers. Security will be a major issue throughout the pontiff’s Asia trip, but Philippine Church officials have said he will not travel in a bulletproof “popemobile” because he wants to be closer to his flock. Philippine authorities have said they are deploying nearly 40,000 security personnel in one of the nation’s biggest ever security operations.

Asia-Pacific