Between his arrival at the Valencia Airport, and prior to his official visit to the city’s cathedral, Pope Benedict visited the Jesus Metro Station where 42 people lost their lives.

After leaving a wreath of flowers and silently offering a prayer for the victims and their families, the pope thanked the many police and firefighters who assisted in evacuating the victims of Monday’s disaster.

Thousands of Valencians and pilgrims from around the world applauded the Holy Father along the way from the airport to the Cathedral.  And several of Valencia’s musical groups played along the route.

The bells of Valencia’s churches rang as the Pope passed and the flags of the Vatican, Spain, and the city of Valencia were hung from balconies along the path of the motorcade.

Upon arriving at Valencia's Cathedral, the Holy Father joined several families of the victims of the metro disaster in praying the Our Father.