Pope Francis in Philippines: Six million people attend outdoor Mass event in heavy tropical rain

Attendees wore rain ponchos while watching the event

Sunday 18 January 2015 10:50 EST

Crowds waited patiently for the Pope in the first papal visit to the country since 1995 (Getty)

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Crowds flocked to the rain-soaked streets of Manila in the Philippines to take part in an outdoor Mass led by the Pope.

Despite torrential downpours cause by a tropical storm, six million people turned out to cheer on the Pontiff. And it was quite a spectacle.

There are 80 million Catholics in the Philippines with six million at the event

The Pope leading the huge outdoor Mass session

Dancers put on a show colourful for spectators

Crowds of well-wishers excited to see the Pope held back by police

Pope Francis ended his six-day tour of Asia at the ceremony in Rizal Park where millions of people stood dressed in elaborate outfits and rain ponchos to welcome him as he passed through designated routes in his “Pope-mobile”.

Some people waited through the night until gates opened at dawn

The 60 hectare park was crammed full in the rain

Groups of nuns shelter themselves from the downpour

A sea of phones are held up while the Pope kisses a baby

He appealed for Filipino Catholics, of which there are around 80 million in the country, to protect their young from sin and temptation so they can become missionaries of the faith.

The number of people surpasses the five million who attended an appearance by St John Paul II in the same park spanning 60 hectares (148 acres) in 1995, Vatican spokesman Reverend Federico Lombardi said.

The Pope circled the crowds in his vehicle to greet people

The tropical storm did not put a dampener on people's spirits

A rain-soaked girl gets held up to talk to the Pope

Pope Francis told the crowd that all young people should be cherished

He said to the crowd: “We need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected.

“And we need to care for our young people, not allowing them to be robbed of hope and condemned to a life on the streets.”

The pope also comforted to 12-year-old Glyzelle Palomar, a former street child, who wept as she asked him why children suffer so much and why some are neglected by their parents to end up on the streets becoming dependant on drugs and prostitution.