- Image Credit: AFP
- Pope Francis greets Filipinos in the streets of Manila during his visit on January 16, 2015. Pope Francis is on a five-day visit to the Philippines.
MANILA, Philippines: Pope Francis called on Filipinos to reject the corruption that has plagued this Asian nation for decades and urged them to instead work to end its “scandalous” poverty as he brought his message of social justice to Filipinos who cheered him wildly at every turn.
The remarkably enthusiastic reception on Francis’ first full day in Asia’s largest Catholic nation came despite an unprecedented level of security that prevented the pope from diving into the crowds as he typically likes to do. Rather, Francis waved from the car window or popemobile as his motorcade drove through boulevards lined with well-wishers held behind police barricades.
Corruption has wracked the Philippines since the 20-year rule of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who along with his shoe-loving wife and cronies were suspected of stealing between $5 billion and $10 billion before being ousted from power in 1986
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