Arrival in Chile

Upon his arrival at the airport in Santiago, the Holy Father, Pope Francis was welcomed by the President of the Republic of Chile, Michelle Machelet Jeria as well as the President of the Senate, Andrés Zaldivar; the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Fidel Espinoza; the President of the Supreme Court, Haroldo Brito; the Minster of Foreign Affairs, Heraldo Muñoz and the Ambassador of Chile to the Holy See, Mariano Fernandez.  Also present to greet the Holy Father were the Archbishop of Santiago del Cile, Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, S.D.B. and the President of the Chilean Episcopal Conference, His Excellency, Santiago Silva Retamales.

Following the presentation of a floral bouquet by two children dressed in traditional outfits, the presentation of military honours and the introduction of the various delegations, the Pope travelled by car to the Apostolic Nunciature in Santiago.

Before arriving at the Apostolic Nunciature, Pope Francis stopped briefly at the parish church of San Luis Beltrán di Pudahuel in order to pray at the tomb of His Excellency, Enrique Alvear Urrutia, known as the bishop of the poor.