Pope Francis returns to Vatican from Colombia visit

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has returned to the Vatican at the end of his five day apostolic visit to Colombia.

After the papal plane touched down at Rome’s Ciampino airport on Monday afternoon, the pope went to the Rome Basilica of St Mary Major, as he habitually does, to give thanks for his successful journey.

Inside the ancient basilica, he spent a few moment in prayer in front of the icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani.

During the eleven hour flight, Pope Francis answered questions from the journalists who had been covering his visit to the Colombia cities of Cartagena, Medellin, Villavicencio and the capital Bogotà.