Millions flock to Rizal Park ahead of papal mass

Photo by RP Ocampo

MANILA, Philippines - Hundreds of thousands of people have already gathered and thousands more are walking to Rizal Park (formerly Luneta) for the the Mass that will be celebrated by Pope Francis on Sunday afternoon.

Authorities said that as of 9 a.m., at least two million people are already inside the Rizal Park.

Meanwhile, at least 10 people were reported hurt after a brief scuffle of pilgrims at the Maria Orosa Street entrance. The incident happened at around 5 a.m.

The papal Mass is scheduled at 3:30 p.m., after Pope Francis' youth encounter at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, where more than 100,000 people are expected to gather.

Due to the scuffle, policemen and volunteers formed a human barricade at the Maria Orosa Street entrance to prevent another incident.

As of this posting, people are orderly trooping into Rizal Park for the afternoon papal mass.

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