Pope Francis pays tribute to the "resilience" and "dignity" of the people of L'Aquila, during a visit to the Abruzzese city (central Italy), which is still healing the wounds of a deadly earthquake in 2009 that killed more than 300 people, injured 1,600 and caused huge damage to the city. The Holy Father arrived in L'Aquila by helicopter and met the families of the victims of the earthquake, before going to the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, which was severely damaged in the earthquake. In the square outside the Basilica, he participated in the traditional opening of the Holy Door, the oldest in the world, and the tomb of Celestine V, the first Pope to resign in the 13th century. "We hope for the total recovery of the city" says Emiliana di Pompeo, a resident of L'Aquila, "and so the Pope's visit is really a message of hope". IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES