Pope Francis arrived in Belém today at 11:00 am for a welcome ceremony and a courtesy visit to the President of the Republic, the first stop since landing in Lisbon, where he was received by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Pope Francis landed at the Figo Maduro air base about 15 minutes before 10:00 and drove to Bethlehem in a white car with a small Vatican flag, accompanied by a security escort.
The head of state made the trip sitting in the front seat, next to the driver, with the window open and waved to some people along the way, with the roads where the motorcade passed being cut off to traffic. The journey took about 20 minutes.
The leader of the Catholic Church arrived at the National Palace of Belém at 11:00, about 15 minutes later than scheduled.
At the welcoming ceremony, near the main entrance of the National Palace of Belém, he was received by a guard of honor made up of student cadets from the three branches of the Armed Forces (Naval School, Military Academy and Air Force Academy).
Pope Francis got out of the car and greeted the President of the Republic, who was waiting for him, as he arrived first in Belém after having received the Pope as he got off the plane at the Figo Maduro air base.
The Air Force band then played the anthems of the two countries and, during the Vatican anthem, a salvo of 21 shots was fired from the frigate D. Francisco de Almeida, anchored in the Tagus River.
The two heads of state took their places on a platform near the main entrance of the Palace of Belém, where two white armchairs made on purpose for the visit were placed, and watched the military parade.
Many people were waiting for the Pope, as well as demonstrators.
