pontiff

During their audience with the pontiff, the prelates were allowed to address the pontiff freely without the aid of the microphone.

'I protect Moroccan Jews as well as Christians from other countries, who are living in Morocco,' King Mohammed VI told crowds on Saturday, following the pontiff's arrival.

During his time in Morocco, the pontiff met members of the kingdom's catholic community and migrants.

Pope Francis' plane landed in Abu Dhabi airport on Sunday and an official delegation welcomed the pontiff. He kicked off his official engagements on Monday, arriving at the city's lavish presidential palace in a Kia Soul, a small black car.

The pontiff left for Rome after his three-day visit to the UAE.

The two spoke briefly before the pontiff was greeted by a young girl who presented him with a bouquet of flowers.

The last pontiff to come visit will be a very over was Pope John Paul II, who drew crowds of more than 2.5 million people in 1979.

3 billion Catholics not to ignore the plight of migrants who are "driven from their land" because of leaders willing to shed "innocent blood." "So many other footsteps are hidden in the footsteps of Joseph and Mary," the Argentine pontiff, himself the grandson of Italian migrants, told worshippers in Saint Peter's Basilica.

The pontiff then met the US delegation, including first lady Melania.

The pontiff held a 45-minute audience at the Vatican on Monday with the group, which was led by Rabbi Edgar Gluck.

NNA - Pope Francis has arrived in Ecuador on the first stop of a seven-day tour of South America, his second visit to the region since becoming pontiff in 2013.

Summary: The Maronite patriarch assisted Pope Francis during a Mass Wednesday at the Vatican and thanked the pontiff for his recent calls for peace in the Middle East.

"Sixty-five years!'' said the pontiff. "This is going to be a long one.