The pope's plane landed at the Bucharest airport 10 minutes before the scheduled time. A sea of Romanian flags awaited him there, with hundreds of pilgrims waving.
'Long live the pope.'
Getting off the plane, the pope slipped a bit. Thankfully, it was only a scare.
President Klaus Iohannis, accompanied by his wife Carmen Lăzurcă, was waiting for him at the foot of the stairs.
'Thanks for the welcome.'
'You have honored us and made us happy. It is a blessing for our country.'
He was also received by a representative of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The pope greeted him with special attention and kissed his medal.
Pope Francis also encountered the country's Catholic bishops. Yet, a sick child was the first citizen the pope stopped with before beginning this three-day trip.
The pope's visit has aroused a curiosity in the country. Along the road, the people even got out of their cars to see the pope up close.
