Pope Francis arrives in Nairobi

Pope Francis has arrived in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, at 4.30pm local time. He was welcomed by the nation's President, Uhuru Kenyatta, by local religious leaders and by huge crowds of singing, dancing well-wishers. After signing a visitor's book, the Pope met privately with the President at the airport for a few minutes before being taken by car to the State House for an official welcome ceremony.

Pope Francis is the third pontiff to visit the East African nation, following in the footsteps of his predecessor John Paul II who travelled to the country three times in 1980, 1985 and 1995.

As his plane passed over Italy, Greece, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya he sent telegrams from the plane with a blessing and prayers for peace and well-being on their people.

The full text of each telegram may be found below:

To Italy:
A SUA ECCELLENZA
ON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENTE DELLA REPUBBLICA ITALIANA
NEL MOMENTO IN CUI MI ACCINGO A COMPIERE UN VIAGGIO APOSTOLICO IN KENYA, UGANDA E REPUBBLICA CENTRAFRICANA, MOSSO DAL VIVO DESIDERIO DI INCONTRARE I FRATELLI NELLA FEDE E GLI ABITANTI DI QUELLE CARE NAZIONI, MI E' GRADITO RIVOLGERE A LEI SIGNOR PRESIDENTE L'ESPRESSIONE DEL MIO DEFERENTE SALUTO CHE ACCOMPAGNO CON FERVIDE PREGHIERE PER IL BENE E LA PROSPERITA' DELL'INTERO POPOLO ITALIANO
FRANCISCUS PP

To Greece:
HIS EXCELLENCY PROKOPIS PAVLOPOULOS
PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC
ATHENS
I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND TO YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER THE COUNTRY ON MY WAY TO KENYA FOR A PASTORAL VISIT. I INVOKE DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON GREECE, AND I PRAY THAT ALMIGHTY GOD MAY BLESS YOU ALL WITH PEACE AND WELL-BEING.
FRANCISCUS PP.

To Egypt:
HIS EXCELLENCY ABDEL FATTAH AL SISI
PRESIDENT OF THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
CAIRO
AS I FLY OVER YOUR COUNTRY ON MY WAY TO KENYA FOR A PASTORAL VISIT, I EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT. INVOKING THE BLESSING OF THE ALMIGHTY UPON THE NATION, I PRAY THAT HE MAY GRANT YOU WELL-BEING AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.

To Sudan:
HIS EXCELLENCY OMAR AL-BASHIR
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN
KHARTOUM
UPON ENTERING THE AIRSPACE OF THE NATION AS I TRAVEL TO KENYA FOR A PASTORAL VISIT, I EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. I PRAY THAT THE ALMIGHTY MAY GRANT THE SUDAN DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
FRANCISCUS PP.

To Ethiopia:
HIS EXCELLENCY MULATU TESHOME
PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA
ADDIS ABABA
AS I TRAVEL OVER ETHIOPIA ON MY WAY TO KENYA FOR A PASTORAL VISIT, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND TO YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. ASSURING YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE PEACE AND WELL-BEING OF THE NATION, I INVOKE DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON ALL OF YOU.
FRANCISCUS PP.

To Kenya:
HIS EXCELLENCY UHURU KENYATTA
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA
NAIROBI

AS I ENTER KENYAN AIRSPACE, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. I LOOK FORWARD WITH GREAT JOY TO VISITING THE NATION, AND I INVOKE ABUNDANT DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON YOU ALL.
FRANCISCUS PP.
(from Vatican Radio)

Just before beginning his Apostolic Journey to Kenya, Uganda, and the Central African Republic this morning, Pope Francis received a visit at the Casa Santa Marta from several residents of a shelter for victims of domestic violence. The 11 women and six children were victims of domestic violence or in danger of being forced into prostitution and are staying in a shelter home run by a religious congregation for their safety.

Source: VIS/Vatican Radio