Departure from Rome and Telegrams to Heads of State
Welcome Ceremony at Santiago International Airport
Departure from Rome and Telegrams to Heads of State
This morning the Holy Father began his 22nd international Apostolic Trip, this time to Chile and Peru.
Before leaving the Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis greeted the parents and grandmother of a Roman girl fatally hit by a vehicle near her own home, four days after her eighteenth birthday, accompanied by H.E. Msgr. Konrad Krajewski, Almoner of His Holiness.
The aircraft carrying the Holy Father (an Alitalia B777) took off from Rome-Fiumicino International Airport at 8.55, and landed at Santiago International Airport, Chile, at 19.15 local time (23.15 in Rome).
At the moment of take-off, Pope Francis sent telegrams to the Heads of State over through whose airspace he passed.
During the flight, the Holy Father wished to give to the journalists on the papal flight the image of a child carrying his dead infant brother on his back following the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in 1945.
Telegrams to Heads of State
At the moment of leaving Italian territory, commencing flight from Rome to Chile and Peru and passing over France, Spain, Morocco, Cape Verde, Senegal, Brazil, Paraguay and finally Argentina before reaching Santiago, the Holy Father Francis sent to the respective Heads of States the following telegrams:
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
At the moment of leaving Italian territory, destined for Chile and Peru, the Holy Father Francis sent to the President of the Italian Republic, the Hon. Sergio Mattarella, the following telegram:
HIS EXCELLENCY
HON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE
AS I LEAVE ROME TO VISIT CHILE AND PERU TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE LOCAL CHURCH AND TO BEAR A MESSAGE OF HOPE, I WISH TO ADDRESS TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, MY RESPECTFUL GREETING, WHICH I ACCOMPANY WITH HEARTFELT WISHES FOR THE SPIRITUAL, CIVIL AND SOCIAL WELLBEING OF THE ITALIAN PEOPLE, TO WHOM I GLADLY SEND MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight France
HIS EXCELLENCY EMMANUEL MACRON
PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
PARIS
AS I FLY OVER FRANCE ON MY WAY TO CHILE AND PERU FOR A PASTORAL VISIT, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. I PRAY THAT ALMIGHTY GOD MAY BLESS YOU ALL WITH PEACE AND STRENGTH, AS I INVOKE DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Spain
HIS MAJESTY FELIPE VI
KING OF SPAIN
MADRID
I EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR MAJESTY, THE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, AND THE PEOPLE OF SPAIN AS I FLY OVER YOUR COUNTRY ON MY WAY TO CHILE AND PERU FOR A PASTORAL VISIT. INVOKING THE BLESSING OF ALMIGHTY GOD UPON THE NATION, I PRAY THAT HE MAY GRANT ALL OF YOU PEACE AND WELL-BEING.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Morocco
HIS MAJESTY MOHAMMED VI
KING OF MOROCCO
RABAT
I OFFER BEST WISHES AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS AS MY JOURNEY TO CHILE AND PERU TAKES ME OVER MOROCCO. ENTRUSTING YOUR MAJESTY, THE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, AND THE PEOPLE OF MOROCCO TO THE ALMIGHTY, I WILLINGLY INVOKE UPON YOU THE BLESSINGS OF JOY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Cape Verde
HIS EXCELLENCY JORGE CARLOS FONSECA
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CABO VERDE
PRAIA
I OFFER BEST WISHES AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS AS MY JOURNEY TO CHILE AND PERU TAKES ME OVER CABO VERDE. ENTRUSTING YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS TO ALMIGHTY GOD, I WILLINGLY INVOKE UPON YOU THE BLESSINGS OF JOY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Senegal
HIS EXCELLENCY MACKY SALL
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL
DAKAR
AS MY JOURNEY TO CHILE AND PERU TAKES ME THROUGH SENEGAL’S AIRSPACE, I EXTEND BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE PEACE AND WELL-BEING OF THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Brazil
HIS EXCELLENCY MICHEL TEMER
PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL
BRASÍLIA
AS I TRAVEL OVER BRAZIL ON MY APOSTOLIC VISIT TO CHILE AND PERU, I OFFER BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Paraguay
HIS EXCELLENCY HORACIO CARTES
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF PARAGUAY
ASUNCIÓN
RECALLING OUR RECENT MEETING, I SEND MY GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF PARAGUAY AS I FLY OVER THE NATION ON MY JOURNEY TO CHILE AND PERU. UPON ALL OF YOU I INVOKE THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND STRENGTH.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Argentina
HIS EXCELLENCY MAURICIO MACRI
PRESIDENT OF THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
BUENOS AIRES
AS I FLY OVER ARGENTINIAN AIRSPACE I EXTEND TO YOU MY WARM GREETINGS AND I SEND HEARTFELT BEST WISHES TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF MY HOMELAND, ASSURING THEM OF MY CLOSENESS AND BLESSING. I ASK ALL OF YOU, PLEASE, DO NOT FORGET TO PRAY FOR ME.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Welcome Ceremony at Santiago International Airport
Upon arrival the Holy Father Francis was received by the President of the Republic of Chile Michelle Bachelet Jeria, by the President of the Senate Andrés Zaldivar, the President of the Chamber of Deputies Fidel Espinoza, the President of the Supreme Court Haroldo Brito, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Heraldo Muñoz and the Ambassador of Chile to the Holy See Mariano Fernandez. In addition, the archbishop of Santiago H.E. Msgr. Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, S.D.B., and the President of the Episcopal Conference of Chile H.E. Msgr. Santiago Silva Retamales, were also present.
After a floral tribute given by two children in traditional dress, military honours and the presentation of the delegations, the Pope transferred by car to the apostolic nunciature of Santiago.
Before arriving at the nunciature, Pope Francis paused briefly at the San Luis Beltrán parish in Pudahuel, to pray at the tomb of Msgr. Enrique Alvear Urrutia, known as the “bishop of the poor”.
