Farewell Ceremony at Rabat-Salé International Airport and return to Rome
Telegram to the King of Morocco, His Majesty Mohammed VI
Telegrams to Heads of State
Farewell Ceremony at Rabat-Salé International Airport and return to Rome
At 17.00 local time (18.00 in Rome), the Holy Father Francis arrived at Rabat-Salé International Airport, where the farewell ceremony took place, concluding his trip to Morocco.
Upon arrival, the Pope was received by a delegation of King Mohammed VI in the Salon Royal, where he remained briefly.
The Pope and the King’s delegation were greeted by His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin; His Eminence Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; H.E. Msgr. Edgar Peña Parra, substitute of the Secretariat of State; H.E. Msgr. Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.J., secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; and the local entourage. The Pope then boarded a Royal Air Maroc B737-800 for his return flight to Rome.
The aircraft carrying the Pope on the return flight from his apostolic trip to Morocco departed from Rabat-Salé International Airport at 17.28 local time (18.28 in Rome) and landed at Rome-Ciampino Airport at 20.55
Telegram to the King of Morocco, His Majesty Mohammed VI
Immediately after his departure by air from Rabat, the Holy Father sent the following telegram to His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco:
HIS MAJESTY MOHAMMED VI
KING OF MOROCCO
RABAT
AS I DEPART FROM MOROCCO TO RETURN TO ROME, I RENEW MY DEEP APPRECIATION TO YOUR MAJESTY AND THE ROYAL FAMILY, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BELOVED PEOPLE OF MOROCCO FOR YOUR WARM WELCOME AND GENEROUS HOSPITALITY. INVOKING ABUNDANT DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON ALL OF YOU, I OFFER THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Telegrams to Heads of State
During the flight from Rabat to Rome, flying over Algeria and returning to Italy, the Pope sent the following telegrams to the respective Heads of State:
Overflight Algeria
HIS EXCELLENCY ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA
ALGIERS
AS MY RETURN FLIGHT FROM MOROCCO TAKES ME OVER ALGERIA, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. I PRAY THAT THE ALMIGHTY MAY GRANT YOU ALL PEACE AND STRENGTH, AND I INVOKE DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Arrival - Italy
HIS EXCELLENCY
HON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
QUIRINAL PALACE 00187 ROME
AS I RETURN FROM MY PASTORAL VISIT TO MOROCCO, WHERE I WAS ABLE TO MEET THE VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE MOROCCAN POPULATION AND TO EXPRESS MY AFFECTIONATE ESTEEM TO THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY, EXHORTING ALL TO PURSUE THEIR JOINT COMMITMENT TO THE PEACE AND WELLBEING OF SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, I ADDRESS TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, AND TO THE DEAR ITALIAN NATION, MY CORDIAL GREETING, JOINED WITH A SPECIAL PRAYER TO GOD, THAT HE MAY GRANT EVERYONE THE COURAGE AND TENACITY TO LOOK WITH TRUST TO THE FUTURE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
