Pope Francis will continue his six-day tour of the US after landing in the country for the first time on Tuesday.
As only the fourth pope to visit the US, he was welcomed by President Barack Obama and his family, a military honour guard, school children, politicians and Roman Catholic clerics at the Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
But in a clear demonstration of his preference for modesty, he shunned the usual choice of a limousine or SUV and left the base in a dark grey Fiat 500L.
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The 78-year-old leader of the Catholic Church arrived in the US from Cuba. And although it is not expected he will address the issue during his visit, Pope France told reporters he hoped the US would lift its long-standing trades embargo on the island.
During his time in the US, he expected to address issues such as the environment and welcoming immigrants.
On the flight from Cuba, the Pope commented on his concerns over economic injustice and said some may have got the wrong impression that he was “a little bit more left-leaning”.
He told reporters: “I am certain that I have never said anything beyond what is in the social doctrine of the church.”
Schedule - Wednesday 23 September
- Meet President Obama at the Oval Office
- Deliver opening remarks on White House Lawn before parading past some of Washington DC's monuments
- Speak to America’s 450 bishops at a conference at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle
- Canonise Junipero Serra, an 18th-century missionary credited with bringing Catholicism to California, during a Mass to be held outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Later in the week, Pope Francis will make the first ever papal address at Congress and speak at the United Nations when he travels to New York.
Additional reporting by AP and Reuters
