Happening now: Pope Francis is here in Georgia

Pope Francis landed in Tbilisi earlier today. Photo from the President of Georgia press office.
Agenda.ge, 30 Sep 2016 - 16:22, Tbilisi,Georgia

Pope Francis – the head of the Roman Catholic Church – has arrived in Georgia.

Just after 3pm today the religious leader was welcomed at Tbilisi Shota Rustaveli International Airport by President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili and Georgia’s Catholics Patriarch Ilia II.

UPDATED: 16:21

Watch live from Georgia's President’s Palace:

Pope Francis will stay in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi for several days before departing for Azerbaijan on October 2.

Take a look at the details of this historical visit via the online map project by Agenda.ge, click Explore.

EARLIER: 15:25

While in Georgia the Pope is scheduled to hold several meetings with high officials and visit several locations in and around Georgia’s capital, including local churches and Georgia’s historic capital Mtskheta.

Meanwhile from Tbilisi International Airport Pope Francis and his entourage will travel to the President’s Palace in Avlabari, where he will sit down for a face-to-face meeting with President Giorgi Margvelashvili.

After the meeting a small ceremony will take place where the pair will exchange gifts, before Pope Francis and President Margvelashvili make statements for the public.

Earlier today Pope Francis announced his Georgia visit on his official Twitter account: