Pope Francis Arrives in U.S. for First Visit

FRANCIS IN AMERICA

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 1:06Pope Arrives in the U.S.



Video Pope Francis arrived on Tuesday at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland for his first visit to the United States.

By PETER BAKER, AZAM AHMED and JIM YARDLEY
SEPTEMBER 22, 2015


WASHINGTON — Pope Francislanded to a red-carpet welcome on Tuesday afternoon as he opened his first visit to the United States determined to press the world’s last superpower to do more to care for the planet and its most marginalized inhabitants.

The papal jet descended out of cloudy skies to touch down at Joint Base Andrews, the iconic post still better known as Andrews Air Force Base and home of the presidential air fleet. As he disembarked, his white robes flapping in the wind and his cap held in his hand, the pontiff was greeted by President Obama, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and their families.

Hundreds of guests invited mainly by the Apostolic Nunciature, the equivalent of an embassy, cheered as the Alitalia jet rolled along the runway and the pope made his way down the stairs. “Ho, ho, hey, hey, welcome to the U.S.A.,” they chanted at one point. At another, they chanted, “We love Francis, yes we do; We love Francis, how about you?”

While he seemed a little weary as he arrived after his visit to Cuba, Pope Francis, 78, smiled broadly and seemed delighted to be here. Mr. Obama clapped, shook his hand and then introduced his wife, Michelle, his daughters Malia and Sasha, and his mother-in-law, Marian Robinson. Mr. Biden, the first Catholic vice president, did the same with his wife, Jill, and his granddaughters Maisy and Finnegan.


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