Filipino nuns together with thousands of others gesture during the closing rites of an overnight rally at the Folk Arts Theater, near Manila's bay, that ended Sunday, Aug. 18, 2002
to pray for Pope John Paul II's health and his still unconfirmed visit to the Philippines, Asia's largest predominantly Catholic nation.
The prayer festival was the first of three public events in coming months to prepare for a possible papal visit in January 22-26 for the World Meeting of Families.
