Arrival at Airport

Information as of Friday 24 August, 12 noon

10.30 Arrive Dublin Airport on special Al Italia flight from Rome FCO1

Greeted on board aircraft by:

Mr. Feilim McLaughlin Chief of Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Papal

Invited to descend steps

Greeted at bottom of steps by:

Mr. Simon Coveney T.D. Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Ms. Ruth Coveney Ms. Beth Coveney (9) Ms. Jessica Coveney (7) Ms. Annalise Coveney (5)

The Coveney children present his Holiness with flowers.

Mr. Ruairi Boland Ms. Maura Boland Ms. Jane Boland (11) Mr. Daniel Boland (10) Mr. Tom Boland (8)

The Boland children present the Holy Father with a vestment they designed.

Cllr. Anthony Lavin Mayor of Fingal H.E. Ms. Emma Madigan Ambassador of Ireland to the Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life Cardinal Seán Brady

1 For previous visits, Al Italia have published further flight information on their website. http://corporate.alitalia.it Archbishop Emeritus of Armagh Most Reverend and President of the Episcopal Conference Most Reverend Most Reverend Archbishop of Most Reverend Kieran O’Reilly Archbishop of Cashel and Emly Most Reverend Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of , Church of Ireland

Escorted to motorcade

10.45 Depart Dublin Airport for Áras an Uachtaráin, Phoenix Park

ANNEX: Other flight information

Aer Lingus is operating specially chartered flights for His Holiness, on Sunday 26 August:

 EI 1979 Dublin to Knock, departing 08:40  EI 2018 Knock to Dublin, departing 11:15  EI 2408 Dublin to Ciampino (Rome), departing 18:45

The papal delegation will travel to Ireland on the Italian national airline, Alitalia, in line with custom, arriving in Dublin Airport at 10.30 on 25 August.

Aer Lingus is operating an A321 the St. Aidan. A second A321 aircraft the St. Dervilla will be on standby for the duration of the visit.

The Dublin to Knock, and Knock to Dublin flights will be in command of Captains Eamonn Kearns and Conor O’Dwyer. The Dublin to Ciampino flight will be in the command of Captains Steve Kelly and Shane Kearney.

Altogether, 16 cabin crew will service the three flights, led by Joan O’Neill and Jackie Bailey, both of whom joined the airline in 1979, the year when Aer Lingus carried Pope John Paul II.

Slight modifications have been made to the aircraft: the Papal Coat of Arms has been applied to the exterior of the plane; divider curtains have been installed; and loud-speaker facilities for an on-board press conference to be held on the return flight to Rome have been added.

The Papal flag and the Irish tricolour will be flown from the cockpit for both pushback and landing in both Dublin and Knock airports. The papal flag and the Italian flag will be flown upon landing in Ciampino airport. As is customary, papal blessings are made as the delegation enters new airspace, these blessings will be issued from the flight deck accordingly during the flight to Ciampino.

The chartered Aer Lingus A321 plane will accommodate 126 guests including Pope Francis and key members of the Vatican, members of the wider Vatican delegation, security staff and journalists.

Aer Lingus carried Pope John Paul II in 1979 during his visit to Ireland.

Menu on-board flights

Aer Lingus chefs will provide a traditional Irish menu on the return flight (EI 2408):

STARTER Toons Bridge mozzarella with a fresh leek salad, sun-dried tomato tartar, basil pesto Bread Penny loaf, Irish soda bread, Glenilen Irish dairy butter

MAINS Oven baked light smoked salmon, braised savoy cabbage, glazed carrots and baby boiled potatoes, dill butter or Basil pesto risotto with roasted summer vegetables

DESSERT Passion fruit mousse

TREAT Cocoa Atelier chocolate bites

Aer Lingus Gift to Pope Francis

On the flight to Ciampino, Greg Kaldahl, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, and Fergus Wilson, Chief Technical Officer, Aer Lingus will present Pope Francis with the following gifts on behalf of the airline: - A model of Aer Lingus’ first Aircraft the De Havilland DH84 Dragon EI-ABI - A replica of the Celtic Crucifix of Athlone which was on board the Boeing747 Aircraft ‘St Patrick’ that carries His Holiness Saint John Paul II. The cross is one of the earliest Celtic Christian Crosses found in Ireland dating from c. 800 AD. - Donation by Aer Lingus to Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People, Arran Quay