Pope in Thailand: Arrival in Bangkok

After arriving, Francis travelled by car to the nunciature to have lunch, rest and in the afternoon, celebrate Mass in private. The first appointments and the first speeches, 8 only in the Thai stage, will begin tomorrow, November 21st.

Bangkok AsiaNews) - Pope Francis arrived in Bangkok, the first stop on his 32nd apostolic journey.

Upon arrival at Bangkok Airport, at 12.05 local time (5.05 GMT) Francis was greeted by a member of the Crown Council who offered him a floral tribute and six authorities from the South East Asian country, together with the bishops and 11 children with the typical traditional clothes, representatives of the dioceses present in the area, where Catholics are just over 300 thousand.

Thus after greeting the authorities, the Thai bishops and the children, the Pope crossed the Guard of Honor.

Immediately afterwards Francis travelled by car to the nunciature to have lunch, rest and in the afternoon, celebrate Mass in private. His cousin Sister Ana Rosa Sivori, 77, (in the photo) of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, who will interpret for the Pope in some meetings in Thailand also welcomed him at the airport of Bangkok.

The first appointments and the first speeches, 8 only in the Thai stage, will begin tomorrow, November 21st.