Pope Francis’ Alitalia plane touched down at the Kraków-Balice airport in southern Poland shortly before 4pm local time. The pontiff was welcomed by President Andrzej Duda and his wife.
He was also greeted by Prime Minister Beata Szydło and senior state and religious officials including the Archbishop of Kraków, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz.
The pontiff then travelled in his popemobile to Kraków’s historic Wawel Castle, a former residence of Polish kings, traversing the streets of the ancient city.
Welcome at Wawel Castle
Speaking at Wawel Castle, Pope Francis said he was visiting Central and Eastern Europe for the first time.
“I am glad that I am starting from Poland, whose son was the unforgotten St. John Paul II, initiator and promoter of World Youth Days,” he said, referring to his late Polish-born predecessor.
Pope Francis also referred to current affairs, including migration.
"The causes of emigration from Poland should be identified, facilitating the return of those who wish to return," he said.
"At the same time a willingness is needed to accept people fleeing from wars and hunger, solidarity with people deprived of their fundamental rights, including to freely and safely profess their faith."
Welcoming Pope Francis at Wawel Castle, President Duda said: "It is for me an extraordinary honor and joy to be able to greet the Holy Father on behalf of the Republic of Poland, on behalf of all my fellow countrymen, on behalf of the guests, our young people, who have come here to meet the Holy Father.”
Organizers predict that up to 1.5 million people from 187 countries are likely to attend the main events of World Youth Days - a night vigil with the pope on Saturday and an open-air mass celebrated by the pontiff on the last day, Sunday.
A Mass celebrated by Cardinal Dziwisz officially launched the six days of World Youth Days in Kraków on Tuesday evening.
Mass to mark historic Baptism of Poland
On Thursday, Pope Francis will celebrate a mass at the southern Black Madonna shrine of Częstochowa to mark the 1,050th anniversary of the Baptism of Poland.
On Friday, he is scheduled to visit the site of the former Nazi German concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The main venues of the religious celebrations will be the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in the Kraków district of Łagiewniki, the Błonie Common in Kraków and the Campus Misericordiae in the nearby town of Brzegi, where young people from around the world will attend a night vigil and mass with Pope Francis on 30-31 July.
Launched by the late Polish-born Pope John Paul II in the 1980s, World Youth Days have been held every two or three years. Poland has hosted the event once before, in 1991, at the Black Madonna shrine of Częstochowa.
(pk)
Source: PAP