Updated 10:31
After months of preparations, Pope Francis has touched down at Dublin Airport.
The Pontiff’s plane, ‘Sheppard One’ took off from Rome just before 8am and touched down in Ireland just before 10:30am.
He was greeted by the Tánaiste Simon Coveney and his wife and children.
The red carpet greeting saw Mr Coveney's children welcomed the Pontiff to the country by saying 'welcome to Ireland' in Irish, English and Spanish.
The tricolour and the vatican flag flew in front of the plane as it pulled up and the Pope greeted senior church officials.
.@Pontifex steps off the plane @DublinAirport pic.twitter.com/Ab2GkVICS0
— Paul Quinn (@PaulQuinnNews) August 25, 2018
More than 700,000 people are expected to turn out over the next two days for the first visit from the leader of the Catholic Church in almost 40 years.
The eyes of the world are on the visit, with speculation over whether he will talk publicly about child sex abuse within the Catholic Church.
He will meet with survivors of abuse during his 36 hours in Ireland – however, it is not known where or when that will happen.
Meeting @Pontifex onboard the #papaljet on route to #Ireland for the first papal visit in almost 40 years #PopeinIreland #PaulandthePope big thanks to @ZaraKing for capturing the moment pic.twitter.com/mCbypYXUkK
— Paul Quinn (@PaulQuinnNews) August 25, 2018
The Pontiff will begin his trip by heading to Áras an Uachtaráin for a meeting with President Michael D Higgins.
He will also plant a tree in the Áras grounds.
He will then head on to Dublin Castle, where he will make his first public speech of the trip, before heading on to St Mary’s Pro Cathedral.
Dublin city awakes to the 1st day of Pope Francis
visit, everything is in place. Full details available on https://t.co/C3AOVBfzKa#PopeInIreland#FestivalOfFamilies pic.twitter.com/dFcEzo1W2N— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) August 25, 2018
Around 100,000 people are expected to line the streets of the capital to see him in the Popemobile as he makes his way to the Capuchin Day Centre for a private meeting with a number of homeless people.
Later this evening, he will join more than 70,000 pilgrims for the Festival of Families concert in Croke Park.
Weekend of mixed emotions -for many; excitement, for others; feelings of hurt. Whatever your perspective, let’s hope for a weekend where reconciliation & healing can commence, journey for justice is furthered & a country which respects religious freedom & choice #PopeinIreland
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) August 25, 2018
Yesterday, the primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin said addressing the legacy of child abuse within the Catholic Church would be ‘mission impossible’ for Pope Francis alone.
He said the issue would not disappear because of Francis' visit to Ireland this weekend "and nor should it."
He added: "If you speak to survivors, they're carrying a trauma and they will carry it with them for the rest of their lives.
"We have no right to think that we can leave it behind us."
Archbishop Eamon Martin speaking to the media at the World Meeting of Families in Dublin, 23-08-2018. Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA Images
He said the said the issue of abuse by priests is not being ignored by the Pontiff – and called on the Bishops of Ireland to “add our voices to the voices” of abuse survivors so that the Church can begin taking steps to address the issue.
“I think the abuse survivors want more than simply words,” he said.
“They want to know that he is committed to the change in the structures and whatever might have facilitated abuse to happen or indeed not to be dealt with properly.”
Meanwhile, organisers of a solidarity march for victims of clerical abuse say they expect thousands of people to take part.
The Stand4Truth march will assemble at 2.30pm on Sunday August 26th at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square in Dublin.
Among those attending the march are singers Hozier, Mary Black and Liam O'Maonlai who will perform on stage.
It will also feature spoken word performances by theatre-maker Grace Dyas, poet Sarah Clancy and activist Colm O’Gorman.
The crowd will then walk silently to Sean McDermott Street to the last remaining Magdalene Laundry.
Travel
People are being urged to plan their travel well this weekend with a host of road closures and restrictions in place to accommodate the Papal visit.
Additional services have been put in place across all public transport networks and people are strongly encouraged to use them.
Over 50 roads will be closed with parking suspended on many busy streets. Gardaí have warned that any car left on certain roads will be towed away to a safe storage area, according to gardai.
The full list of Dublin City Centre road closures is available here.
