Pope Francis in Turkey
Pope Francis is due to visit the Philippines and will be greeted by traffic police wearing nappies Giampiero Sposito/Reuters

Traffic officers in Manila will have to wear adult nappies when on duty for the visit of Pope Francis.

Around 2,000 staff will don the nappies for the papal visit, which will run from 15 to 19 January, according to Metropolitan Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino.

The plan has been "well received" by staff, Tolentino said, adding the scheme would be trialled on Friday 9 January when 800 traffic police will work during the procession of the Black Nazarene.

The traffic chief said there would not be enough portable toilets for the millions of people who are expected to attend the Pope's open-air mass.

"If you attend an event that will last for 24 hours, you cannot go around looking for a [portable toilet]", Toelentino said.

He also said priests and nuns should also consider wearing the nappies.