Pope Francis uses Kia Popemobile in Tacloban

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Pope Francis has boarded another Popemobile prepared for his Philippine visit. This is a Kia utility vehicle converted for papal use. It was originally used during the World Youth Day in South Korea. Despite the gloomy weather, Pope Francis safely arrived at this storm-ravaged city at 8:47 a.m. on Saturday.

Thousands of pilgrims–many of whom have been braving the stormy weather since Friday night just to get a glimpse of the Pope–erupted in wild cheers as His Holiness emerged from the plane at 8:58 a.m. He was welcomed by Leyte’s top government and church officials.

The Supreme Pontiff will hold a mass at a space near the airport where a runway is proposed to be built.

A modest “sawali” stage was set up where the Pope will address the expected 120,000 pilgrims.

He came to Tacloban despite the threat of Typhoon “Amang” (international name: Mekkhala). Public storm warning signal number 2 is hoisted in the province of Leyte.

The Pope’s mass in Tacloban is symbolic at a time he is expected to release soon a rare encyclical on the environment, climate change and ecology.

A coastal city, Tacloban during Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) was flattened by storm surges, believed to be proof of extreme weather patterns due to climate change. At least 2,474 (of the nationwide 6,300 deaths) were killed in Tacloban, according to the official registered death count. Initially, police feared at least 10,000 died in Tacloban alone.

Pope Francis had been vocal about climate change, drawing criticisms from conservatives.

During the 20th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Lima, Peru, the Pope had warned of the “consequences of climate change” and pushed for an “effective struggle against global warming … free of political and economic pressures.” –With report by Marc Jayson Cayabyab