Pope Francis flew back to Rome on Monday, a day after celebrating mass in front of an unprecedented crowd in the Philippine capital Manila.  Even the Pontiff was surprised by the number of people who came to the mass and lined the Papal route to Rizal Park – six million, according to the Philippine government.

Pope Francis had dedicated the service in part to the victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated the country just over a year ago.  More than 7,350 people died as a result of that storm, and much of the eastern part of the country suffered massive infrastructure damage. 

“Some of you have lost part of your families.  All I can do is keep silent.  And I walk with you all with my silent heart,” Francis said.

The Pope called on people to do more to eradicate poverty, as he did earlier last week in a speech at the presidential palace.  Francis lectured the nation’s elite, calling on political leaders to show integrity and do something to end the nation’s “scandalous social inequalities”.