Patrick Fiori and Alizée in song, blessings, speeches, meal at the bishopric: Pope Francis' busy morning before the open-air mass at 3:30 p.m.

Five artists, including Patrick Fiori and Alizée welcomed the Pope with the song “Terra Nostra”. MAXPPP – MULLER FRANK

Thousands of people attended Pope Francis' visit to Corsica this Sunday. The pontiff spoke twice before holding a giant mass in Ajaccio around 3:30 p.m.
 

The Pope arrived from Rome at 8:50 am at Ajaccio airport, under a blue sky. Yellow and white banners (the papal colours) in the streets, the façade of the Notre-Dame de l'Assomption cathedral repainted, massive parking bans, 2,200 reinforcements deployed for security: the city had prepared urgently, after the late confirmation, at the end of November, of this visit.

The Holy Father in a wheelchair, still with a bruise on his face, the result of a fall out of bed a few days ago, was welcomed by the Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau and a small group of Corsican children, to the sound of Corsican music.

Five artists, including Patrick Fiori and Alizée welcomed the sovereign Pontiff with the song Terra Nostra in front of the cathedral of Ajaccio.

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In the streets of the main city of this island of 350,000 inhabitants, including 80% of Catholics, according to the Vatican, some 12,000 faithful according to the prefecture greeted the sovereign pontiff, who blessed several babies and children and a 108-year-old lady during his stroll in the popemobile on the seafront.

The Pope gave a speech at the cathedral starting at 11:20 a.m. and will then take part in a mass at 3:30 p.m., which is expected to bring together 9,000 people at the Casone open-air theater. He will leave shortly after 6 p.m., according to the Holy See, after a meeting at the airport with Emmanuel Macron.

Several pharmacies open in case of illness

The Regional Health Agency has warned that pharmacy guards are being reinforced: 7 pharmacies will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (4 in downtown Ajaccio, 2 on the south bank, 1 in the Gravona Valley). Faced with the influx of crowds in Ajaccio for the papal mass, discomfort could arise.

At the end of this Angelus prayer in the cathedral, the pope joined the bishopric for lunch. The pope is expected to eat lamb from a farm in Haute-Corse accompanied by Corsican-style beans. He will also be able to taste specialties: cheeses, clementines, wines and cold cuts.

He will leave the bishopric at 2:45 p.m. to celebrate mass on the Casone square.