Pope Francis departs for Tacloban earlier than scheduled

Pope Francis shows the posture of the statue of St. Joseph sleeping that he keeps on his desk during a meeting with families in the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines, Friday, Jan. 16, 2015. AP/Alessandra Tarantino

MANILA, Philippines — Inclement whether due to tropical cyclone 'Amang' did not stop Pope Francis' from flying to Tacloban City on Saturday earlier than scheduled.

The pope boarded Philippine Airlines flight PR8010 at 7:30 a.m.  from the Villamor Air Base in Pasay, 45 minutes earlier than the 8:15 departure in his official itinerary.

Pope Francis will be welcomed by 150,000 people, many of whom are survivors of Supertyphoon Yolanda, which flattened several areas in central Visayas in 2013.

The pontiff will celebrate Mass and proceed to Palo, Leyte in a motorcade. He will take lunch with 30 survivors of the disaster, bringing with him the message of God's "mercy and compassion."

SCHEDULE: Pope Francis in the Philippines | LIVE: Pope Francis in the Philippines - Day 3

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