Pope Francis has landed in Ireland.
The Pontiff’s plane, ‘Sheppard One’ took off from Rome just before 8am and arrived at Dublin Airport shortly after 10.30 this morning.
He was greeted by Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney and his family.
Mr Coveney's children welcomed the pontiff to the country 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.
The Pope is currently on his way form Dublin Airport to Áras an Uachtaráin where he will meet with President Michael D Higgins.
He will also plant a tree in the Áras grounds - a ceremony that will be attended by a family of Syrian asylum seekers.
Seamen in places for guard of honour, while the Army number 1 band will provide the music pic.twitter.com/od0HE61Tuh
— Nicole Gernon (@nicole_gernon) August 25, 2018
A bigger crowd on O Connell St waiting for the Pope Mobile #PopeInIreland pic.twitter.com/XzrDUpvBzK
— Kim Buckley (@KiiimBuckley) August 25, 2018
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.
#dublincastle a hive of activity this morning for #PopeInIreland First stop, Aras an Uachtarain pic.twitter.com/daS5hRMQpd
— Nicole Gernon (@nicole_gernon) August 25, 2018
Pope Francis addressing those gathered in Dublin Castle #PopeInIreland pic.twitter.com/L1gGJ016k4
— Sean Defoe (@SeanDefoe) August 25, 2018
Around 100,000 people are expected to line the streets of the city 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.
.@Pontifex leaves Aras an Uachtarain after spending around half an hour inside #popeinireland pic.twitter.com/wEeSguk6zS
— Nicole Gernon (@nicole_gernon) August 25, 2018
VIDEO: @Pontifex meets around 60 homeless people including children at the #capuchindaycentre #PopeInIreland pic.twitter.com/pyj0joTKub
— Paul Quinn (@PaulQuinnNews) August 25, 2018
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.
Bus stop in Harold's Cross. Image: Michael Staines
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.
