Pope Francis arrives in Cyprus on Thursday afternoon for a historic visit to the island, the second papal visit in Cyprus following the visit of Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.
 
The Cyprus government has welcomed the visit as a significant event of world-class calibre.
 
The Pope will arrive in Larnaca airport at 15:00 local time, where an official welcome wil be held.
 
At 4 pm he will meet with priests, consecrated persons, deacons, catechists, and members of Church associations present in Cyprus at the Maronite Cathedral of Our Lady of Grace.
 
Afterwards he will be officially welcomed at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, followed by a meeting with the President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades and a meeting with local authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps.
 
On Friday (08:30 local time) morning the Pope will hold a courtesy visit to the head of the Cypriot Church, Archbishop Chrysostomos II,  in the Orthodox Archbishopric of Cyprus in Nicosia, followed by a meeting with the Holy Synod at the Orthodox Cathedral in Nicosia.
 
Later in the morning, at 10:00 local time he will preside over a Mass at the “GSP Stadium” in Nicosia. In the afternoon he will hold an Ecumenical Prayer with Migrants at the Parish Church of the Holy Cross in Nicosia.
 
The Cyprus Police will mobilise over 500 police men for the visit.

Seventy seven journalists will accompany the Pope in his visit, while over 200 journalists have been accredited to cover the Papal visit in Cyprus.

On Saturday, the Pope leaves Cyprus and heads to Athens, Greece, where he is scheduled to arrive at 11:10 local time.
 
(CNA)