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MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Pope Francis has been telling the faithful in the Philippines that people should see "each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected."
In the final stop of his Asia pilgrimage, Francis dedicated his homily to children, with the Mass falling on an important feast day honoring the infant Jesus. He told a massive crowd filling Manila's biggest park not to allow children to be "robbed of hope and condemned to life on the streets."
The pope ditched his prepared remarks and spoke off the cuff in his native Spanish to respond to a former street child rescued by a church-run foundation. Twelve-year-old Glyzelle Palomar wept as she asked Francis why children suffer so much.
A visibly moved Francis said he had no answer, but said: "Only when we are able to cry are we able to come close to responding to your question."
The pope's trip was a reflection of the importance that the Vatican places on Asia as the future of the church since it's one of the few places where Catholic numbers are growing.
Officials estimate a record 6 million people poured into Manila's rain-soaked streets and its biggest park today for the Mass.
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016-r-23-(Sound of music and singing, during Pope Francis' last Mass during this visit to the Philippines)--Sound of music and singing during Pope Francis' last Mass during this visit to the Philippines. (18 Jan 2015)
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018-a-17-(Pope Francis, at his final Mass in the Philippines)-"of human family"-Pope Francis says the Christ Child is an example of the connection to family. (18 Jan 2015)
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017-a-14-(Pope Francis, at his final Mass in the Philippines)-"integrity and peace"-Pope Francis tells the crowd that they are part of a large family. (18 Jan 2015)
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019-a-11-(Pope Francis, at his final Mass in the Philippines)-"cherished and protected"-Pope Francis says children are a gift from God. (18 Jan 2015)
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APPHOTO ALT147: Pope Francis caresses 12-year-old Glyzelle Palomar, a rescued street child during his meeting with youths in Santo Tomas University in Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015. The pope ditched his prepared remarks and spoke off the cuff in his native Spanish to respond to Glyzelle, who wept as she asked Francis why children suffer so much. Palomar, a former street child rescued by a church-run foundation, told him of children who are abandoned or neglected by their parents and end up on the streets using drugs or in prostitution. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (18 Jan 2015)
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APPHOTO ALT148: Pope Francis hugs 12-year-old Glyzelle Palomar, a rescued street child during his meeting with youths in Santo Tomas University in Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015. The pope ditched his prepared remarks and spoke off the cuff in his native Spanish to respond to Glyzelle, who wept as she asked Francis why children suffer so much. Palomar, a former street child rescued by a church-run foundation, told him of children who are abandoned or neglected by their parents and end up on the streets using drugs or in prostitution. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (18 Jan 2015)
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APPHOTO XJK103: Pope Francis stops and blesses a one-year-old PJ Lepalam as he arrives at Quirino Grandstand to celebrate his final Papal Mass in Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015. Millions filled Manila's main park and surrounding areas for Pope Francis' final Mass in the Philippines on Sunday, braving a steady rain to hear the pontiff's message of hope and consolation for the Southeast Asian country's most downtrodden and destitute. (AP Photo/Ron Soliman) (18 Jan 2015)
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APPHOTO TOK101: Filipinos hold lit candles to celebrate the Feast of the Santo Nino during a Mass officiated by Pope Francis at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/ Alecs Ongcal) (18 Jan 2015)
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APPHOTO ALT142: Pope Francis, sitting on the altar at right, celebrates a Mass at Rizal Park in Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015. Millions filled Manila's main park and surrounding areas for Pope Francis' final Mass in the Philippines on Sunday, braving a steady rain to hear the pontiff's message of hope and consolation for the Southeast Asian country's most downtrodden and destitute. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (18 Jan 2015)
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APPHOTO XBM801: In this aerial photo provided by the Philippine Air Force, a massive crowd of Filipino faithful fill up the Rizal Park during a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015 in Manila, Philippines. Millions filled Manila's main park and surrounding areas for Pope Francis' final Mass in the Philippines, braving a steady rain to hear the pontiff's message of hope and consolation for the Southeast Asian country's most downtrodden and destitute. (AP Photo/Philippine Air Force, Sgt. Ray Bruna) (18 Jan 2015)
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