Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived at David’s Gate in Jerusalem on Friday evening, at the start of a visit that will culminate in the first meeting after half a century of the heads of the Greek Orthodox and Catholic Churches at the holy city.

He was welcomed by officials of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, musical accompaniment and a crowd of lay people.

The patriarch and his company walked through the narrow city lanes to the Patriarchate gate, where he was formally welcomed by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. Bartholomew visited the Church of Resurrection, where he led a blessing service, as well as the Holy Sepulchre and Calvary.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is meeting with Pope Francis on Sunday and Monday in Jerusalem, where their predecessors (Athenagoras and Paul) met 50 years ago. They first met in March 2013, when Francis was installed as pope.