Millions to welcome Pope on Asia trip

Manila

POPE Francis will immerse himself in some of Asia's most fervent Catholicism during a trip to the Philippines and Sri Lanka starting Tuesday, with millions of devotees set to turn out.

The Argentinian pontiff with a man-of-the-people reputation could attract one of the biggest gatherings ever for a pope during an open-air mass in the Philippine capital of Manila. The Jan 18 event may draw up to six million people, offering a pulsating example of Asia's status as a dynamic growth region for the Catholic Church - but also creating a security nightmare. The Pope's trip, which begins in Sri Lanka, comes just five months after he visited South Korea, signalling the huge importance the Vatican places on Asia and its potential for more followers.