A historic display of faith

MILLIONS of Filipinos on Sunday braved the pouring rain and broke strict security protocols to gather in what could be the largest congregation of Catholic faithful in history.

As early as dawn, huge crowds began to converge around the Quirino Grandstand in Manila for the outdoor Mass scheduled in the afternoon. Officials said the crowd could reach six million, surpassing the number of people who turned out for the Mass celebrated in the same venue by the late Pope and now Saint John Paul in 1995.