(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 3 - Pope Francis's bad knee for the first time ever prevented him from taking his usual stroll down the aisle to meet and greet journalists aboard the papal plane taking him on his historic first trip to Bahrein Thursday.
    "Today I'm very painful and I can't do the rounds but I'd be very pleased if you could do it," he told reporters before they filed up the cabin to say hello.
    "It's an interesting trip, which will make us think and give good news," said the pontiff, 85, who will be greeted by Bahreini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the hereditary prince, the prime minister and other members of the royal family before travelling to the Sakhir Royal Palace where he will have a private meeting with the king.
    On Thursday evening he will meet representatives of the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps, making his first speech in Bahrein to end his first day there.
    During his visit to the Arab kingdom on November 3-6, Francis will also visit the cities of Manama and Awali on the occasion of the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence. (ANSA).