Tacloban, Philippines: Pope Francis cut short his visit to a typhoon-hit region of the Philippines today because of an approaching storm.

In brief, unscripted comments, Francis took the microphone soon after arriving at the main cathedral in Leyte province and told a surprised crowd that he would have to leave at 1 pm, four hours ahead of schedule.

“I apologize to all of you,” he said, speaking in Italian through a translator. “I am sad about this, truly saddened.”

Tropical Storm Mekkhala is barreling toward the area, already dumping rain on a papal Mass in the morning, and is expected to make landfall on nearby Samar Island late afternoon or early evening with winds of 100-130 kilometers (60-80 miles) per hour, the weather bureau said.

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