He landed after 5:10 pm (2110 GMT) following a short flight from Washington DC, arriving at John K. Kennedy Airport, named after America's first Catholic president who was assassinated in 1963.
He travelled on an American Airlines Boeing 777, given the call sign Shepherd One for its illustrious passenger in a nod to his tending to his Catholic flock.
The 78-year-old Argentine pontiff was greeted by delighted cheers as he stepped from the plane in his papal whites, and shook hands with members of the clergy on the tarmac.
He is to be flown by helicopter to lower Manhattan and then drive by motorcade to St Patrick's Cathedral, which stands in opulence on Fifth Avenue surrounded by luxury boutiques.
He will lead evening prayers at the cathedral, where he will be greeted by church leaders and New York dignitaries.
His 36-hour visit to New York will continue on Friday with an address to the UN General Assembly.
He will then lead an inter-faith service at the 9/11 Memorial, visit a Catholic school in Harlem, process through crowds in Central Park and celebrate mass at Madison Square Garden.
AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment