Pope Francis arrives in Greece for three-day visit

The prelate and state leader arrived from Cyprus in Athens at 11:10 with a special flight of Aegean Airlines, accompanied by a pool of journalists from several countries. He was met at the airport by Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias, the Ambassador of the Vatican to Greece, and leaders of the Greek Catholic Church.

The prelate and the minister met briefly and privately at the airport before heading to the Presidential Mansion, where Pope Francis will be formally welcomed at 12:00 by Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who extended the invitation to him to visit the country.

On Saturday, Pope Francis is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis before meeting successively with local authorities, the head of the Greek Orthodox Church in Greece and Catholic Church leaders in Greece.

Pope Francis' full schedule during his visit is as follows:

SATURDAY, DEC. 4:

12:00, Official welcome, Presidential Mansion in Athens

12:15, Courtesy call at Greek president's personal office, Presidential Mansion

12:30, Meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Presidential Mansion

12:45, Meeting with representatives of Greek agencies, local government, and diplomatic corps, Presidential Mansion

16:00, Courtesy call to Archbishop Hieronymos of Athens and All Greece, Archdiocese of Athens

16:30, Meeting of the archbishop and the pope and their entourage, Archdiocese of Athens, Throne Room

17:15, Meeting with bishops, priests, members of monks' orders and devotees, seminary students and teachers of the Catholic Church of Greece, Greek Catholic Cathedral of Agios Dionyssios Areopagitis

18:45, Private meeting with members of the Brotherhood of Jesus, Apostolic Nunciature

SUNDAY, DEC. 5:

09:15, Departure for Lesvos island, arrival at Mytilini at 10:10

10:45, Visit to migrants, Reception and Identification Center facilities

12:15, Return to Athens, arrival at Athens International Airport 'El. Venizelos' at 13:10

16:45, Catholic Liturgy, Athens Concert Hall

19:00, Courtesy call by Archbishop Hieronymos, Apostolic Nunciature

MONDAY, DEC. 6:

08:15, Meeting with Greek Parliament President Kostas Tassoulas, Apostolic Nunciature

(Unspecified time), Meeting with main opposition leader Alexis Tsipras, Vatican Embassy

09:45, Meeting with primary school students, Greek-French Ursuline School 'Agios Dionyssios', Maroussi

11:15, Departure ceremony, Athens International Airport