Huge crowds have begun to form in Rizal Park in Manila, Philippines for Pope Francis' mass Sunday afternoon.
Thousands of people began to arrive Sunday morning hours ahead of the mass, according to the BBC. The Vatican said Pope Francis would dedicate part of the service to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which hit the country in 2013.
About six million people could attend the mass Sunday, Philippines officials said. Some people gathered outside the gates of the park and camped out Saturday night so they could be the first ones to enter. More than five million people attended a mass celebrated in Manila by Pope John Paul II 20 years ago.
About a dozen people suffered injuries in a minor stampede when people rushed to get to the park, Reuters reported. Johnny Yu of the Manila city disaster office said some people jumped over steel railings and some concrete barriers were breached. The Philippines Red Cross has about 7,000 personnel in the park. They have assisted dozens of people for dizziness and breathing difficulties.
The Philippines has set up a security operation with about 50,000 police and soldiers on hand for the Mass.
The pope will hold meetings with religious leaders and young people at the University of Santo Tomas, the biggest Catholic university in Asia, before the mass Sunday, the BBC said. The Vatican expects about 30,000 young people to show up at the university.
