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Pope Francis arrives in Krakow for WYD


Pope Francis has arrived in Poland at the start of his 15th pastoral visit abroad. He was greeted at the airport by Cardinal Dziwisz, the President of Poland Andrzej Duda and wife, a delegation of civic and church leaders, a small boy and girl in national dress carrying flowers and enthusiastic crowds of young people waving flags and singing. After the official welcome and military ceremonies, the Holy Father greeted the crowds in a driveabout before being taken into Krakow.

During his five-day visit the Pope will attend the World Youth Day celebrations taking place in the southern city of Krakow and also visit the former Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

The Alitalia Airbus A321 on which he is travelling touched down at Krakow airport at 4pm local time today.

The Pope was accompanied on board the plane by a Pontifical Delegation and some 70 members of the press.

Before setting off for the airport in Rome, a group of young refugees of different nationalities, nine boys and six girls, gathered at his residence in the Vatican to say goodbye and wish him a good journey.

Other highlights of the Pope's visit to Poland include the celebration of Holy Mass at the nation's holiest shrine at Jasna Gora, a prayer at the Shrine of Divine Mercy and the celebration of Mass together with the young people from across the world who have travelled to Krakow for the 31st World Youth Day .

Pope Francis is due to return to the Vatican on Sunday, July 31.

Visit ICN's Facebook page for more pictures from today.

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