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Cyprus

Pope Benedict with Archbishop Chrysostomos

President Christofias with the Pope at Paphos airport

Paphos turns out to greet the Pope

Pope Benedict greets people in Paphos

HUNDREDS of banner-waving pilgrims turned out in Paphos yesterday to greet the arrival of Pope Benedict to Cyprus, the first-ever Papal visit to the island.

The Pope landed aboard an Alitalia flight at Paphos airport around 2pm where he was met on the red carpet by President Demetris Christofias and his wife Elsi.

Speaking in Greek, the Pontiff said he was happy to be in Cyprus and expressed his gratitude to Christofias for inviting him.

He told reporters on the plane he hoped his trip to the island could inspire both sides to seek peace. "I do not come with a political message but with a religious message that should better prepare people's sentiments to find an opening for peace," he said.

“I come among you as a pilgrim and a servant of God and hail Archbishop Chrysostomos, and I look forward to meeting the remaining members of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus. I hope that I empower our common institutions and repeat the need to construct a mutual trust as well as a continuous friendship between all those who dream of one God.”

At the welcoming ceremony – during which Pope Benedict blessed a small olive tree, which will be planted at Paphos Airport in remembrance of his visit – Christofias described the Pope’s visit as an “historical event”.

“It is a great honour for us that His Holiness the Pope is visiting our island for the first time in our modern history. It is natural for you, as a profound scholar of the Church Fathers and theology, to manifest your sensitivity by visiting Paphos, in the footsteps of Apostle Paul, who during the first apostolic tour on his first stop to Europe, and accompanied by the Apostle Barnabas, brought Christianity to Cyprus.”

Christofias said the Pope’s presence on the island conveyed a strong message of peace over hatred and war.

“We share with you the same vision for peace and social justice,” said the President. “Our fight against poverty, exclusion, injustice and hunger, which unfortunately still plague much of our planet, is a common one.”

He said Cyprus was in need of the Pontiff’s words of peace, given the difficult situation with the Turkish occupation.

“Allow me to say that Cyprus is in need of your prayers and your contribution in order to quickly regain its unity and freedom,” Christofias added. “We are thus grateful for the days you will be among us. Your presence in our country undoubtedly constitutes a historic occasion.”

When he arrived in Paphos town, the Pope was greeted by Archbishop Chrysostomos and almost a thousand people lost in a sea of flags and banners. They cheered in support as he made his way down the front pathway towards Ayia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa church next to the Pillar of St Paul. The historic church was the Pope’s first port of call on his three-day visit.

The Pope was surrounded by a sea of security guards, who accompanied him down the wooden walkway to the church. They parted to enable the Pontiff to turn towards the crowd to raise his hands up and greet them.

Cyprus police and riot squad units backed up the Pope’s own security team who arrived about ten minutes before him to perform a sweep of the area.

Moments before Pope Benedict arrived, a helicopter passed overhead and did so again moments before the Pope left the church following a one-hour joint service with the Archbishop, after which the 37-strong Papal delegation left for Nicosia.

Police managed to cut off a group of ultra Orthodox protesters just a little before 3pm when they gathered outside the Ayion Anargyron Church in Kato Paphos, carrying banners and shouting chants.

Police grabbed the banners and ripped them to pieces in time for the Pope’s arrival. The demonstrators remained in the area and continued to protest.