Crowds wait for fleetingglimpse of Papal convoy

The convoy of more than a dozen vehicles, with a heavy police presence, sped past onlookers as it made its way from Edinburgh Airport to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The passengers were hidden behind tinted windows while people cheered and waved.

Sister Francis, who travelled to the city with members of the Carmelite Monastery in Fife, was one of tens of thousands expected on the streets.

She said the visit will help bring faiths together and added: “I’m very excited and very privileged to be able to come and welcome and support him.

“I think it will be a blessing, whether people know it or not. It will improve relations between Church and state and between other religions.”

Some of the crowd only managed a fleeting glimpse of the Pope driving past.

John Byrne, 18, who just moved from Blackpool to study in Edinburgh, said: “It was pretty fast, he just sort of ran past. But it was all right, it was quite cool.”

Jaimy Madan, from Aberdeen, took his family to see the parade.

“It was so graceful. I’ve been longing to see him, so it was a blessing to see him.”

Others formed protest groups at Festival Square near the end of the route on Lothian Road.

Mirjam Urfel, 34, handed out hundreds of free condoms in the street. She said: “We are not happy with the Pope’s visit, especially because it’s considered a state visit. As a taxpayer I don’t want to pay for him.”