Filipinos Hail Historic Papal Visit

07:34

January 16, 2015

Hundreds of thousands of Catholic Filipinos gathered with banners, commemorative dolls and T-shirts this week for the island nation's first papal visit since John Paul II in 1995.

In a country devastated by government corruption, "super-typhoons" and displaced citizens, Pope Francis is expected to deliver a message of solidarity, mercy and compassion for the poor.

Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson talks with Rev. Patrick Longalong about the highly anticipated speech and the issues citizens face in the Philippines.

Guest

Rev. Patrick Longalong, parochial vicar of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Queens, New York, and coordinator of the Filipino Diocesan Apostolate.

This segment aired on January 16, 2015.