Live. WATCH: Pope Francis arrives in Lisbon ahead of Catholic Church World Youth Day celebrations

Pope Francis arrives in Portugal on Wednesday to open the first post-pandemic edition of World Youth Day, hoping to inspire the next generation of Catholics while coping with the church's ongoing clergy sexual abuse scandal.

More than 1 million young people from around the world were expected to attend the gathering in Lisbon, which takes place over several days.

Busloads of pilgrims started arriving before Tuesday and braced for the high summer temperatures at the open-air events.

The Pope is scheduled to spend the morning meeting with Portuguese officials at the Belem National Palace, the official presidential residence west of Lisbon, from where Portugal’s maritime explorers of the 15th and 16th centuries set sail.

Watch his arrival live on the video player above, scheduled for 11:00 CET.