Departure from Rome

Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic

The Pope’s words on the flight from Rome to Marseille

Departure from Rome

Pope Francis began his 44th International Apostolic Journey today, in Marseille, France, for the conclusion of the Rencontres Méditerranéennes.

This afternoon, at. Santa Marta, before his departure for Marseille, Pope Francis greeted around twenty women, guests of the Dono di Maria House. They were accompanied by some Missionary Sisters of Charity who are responsible for their care.

Upon arriving Rome-Fiumicino International Airport, the Holy Father departed on board an A320 neo/ITA Airways aircraft at 14.45, which landed at Marseille International Airport at 16.03.

Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic

As he left Italian territory, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Italian Republic, the Honorable Sergio Mattarella:

HIS EXCELLENCY
HON. SERIGO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
QUIRINAL PALACE
00187 ROME

AS I LEAVE ROME TO VISIT MARSEILLE, WHERE I WILL TAKE PART N A MEETING THAT GATHERS TOGETHER MEDITERRANEAN CHURCHES AND CITIES IN ORDER TO REFLECT ON THE CHALLENGES OF HOSPITALITY, INTEGRATION AND FRATERNITY, SO AS TO PROMOTE INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE AND TO PROMOTE PATHS OF PEACE, I WISH TO ADDRESS A RESPECTFUL GREETING TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, WHICH I ACCOMPANY WITH FERVENT WISHES FOR THE SPIRITUAL AND SOCIAL WELLBEING OF THE ITALIAN PEOPLE, TO WHOM I GLADLY SEND MY BLESSING.

FRANCIS

The Pope’s words on the flight from Rome to Marseille

On the aircraft carrying him to Marseille, the Holy Father Francis greeted the media workers accompanying him on the flight.

Introduced by a greeting from the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, the Pope addressed the following words to the journalists:

Words of the Holy Father

Matteo Bruni:

Good morning, Your Holiness. You are travelling today with about seventy journalists from various countries, many French, happy to be travelling with you; many other communication workers are waiting in Marseilles for a long-awaited journey, and happy to greet you at this time.

Pope Francis:

Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for coming. I wish you all good work. It will be a short trip but with many things, in this city that is the door and the window to the Mediterranean. Thank you!