POPE BENEDICT XVI arrived in Madrid yesterday for World Youth Day amid tension in the Spanish capital following protests against the cost of hosting the week-long Catholic festival.
His arrival marked the beginning of a four-day papal visit which will culminate with an outdoor Mass on Sunday morning, which is expected to attract an estimated one million pilgrims.
About 800 Irish pilgrims from 17 dioceses are among the 500,000 registered people attending World Youth Day, with organisers expecting some 1.5 million people to take part in events over the weekend.
The Pope was greeted yesterday morning at the airport by a delegation led by King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
On Wednesday night, there were a reported eight people arrested and 11 injured while protesting against the cost of the visit to Spain during a time of recession. Secularists have also argued against the use of state buildings such as schools to host some of the pilgrims.
Organisers have said the event has not received any state funding as the costs have been met by pilgrim registrations and corporate sponsorship. Apart from an excursion to a historic monastery 50km outside Madrid today, the Pope will stay in the Spanish capital.
Pope Benedict faced protests from gays and lesbians and some women kissed as he passed. There were also some clashes with police. Yesterday’s welcoming celebrations ended with a “Party of the Young People” held last night at Cibeles Square in the city centre.