Pope Francis' visit to Cyprus - day one

Screenshot

Source: Vatican News

A group of refugees gathered in the Vatican to see Pope Francis off as he left Casa Santa Marta for the airport by car yesterday afternoon. They were from Syria, Congo, Somalia and Afghanistan and were accompanied by papal almoner Cardinal Konrad Krajewski.

Many of those present had spent time in the Moria migrant camp in Lesbos before travelling to Italy - including some who Pope Francis brought back on the papal plane after his visit to Lesbos in April 2016.

The papal plane touched down Larnaca Airport at 3pm. The Apostolic Nuncio to Cyprus Archbishop Tito Yllana went up the steps to greet the Pontiff inside the aircraft. Awaiting him on the red carpet on the tarmac at the foot of the steps was the Speaker of the House of Parliament, Annita Demetriou, accompanied by three children in traditional dresses, who welcomed him with flowers.

Present also were also several Church VIPs. After the guard of honour to the playing of band music, the Pontiff and the President of the Parliament introduced members of their respective delegations. A group of children on the tarmac holding Vatican and Cypriot flags cheered: "We love you". One of them held a banner with the words, "Pope Francis, symbol of peace".

There were no speeches at the airport but the Pope and Demetriou talked for a while inside the terminal. The Holy Father was then driven some 50 kilometres in a Fiat 500 car to Our Lady of Graces Cathedral in the capital Nicosia, the See of the Maronite Catholic Archdiocese of Cyprus, where he was to address priests, religious, deacons, catechists and ecclesial associations and movements of Cyprus.

Watch a brief summary of the Pope's first day in Cyprus from Vatican News: www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0JLqakRjXc