This morning the Holy Father Francis began his nineteenth international apostolic trip, a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima in Portugal, on the occasion of the centenary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Cova da Iria.

The aircraft carrying the Holy Father (an Alitalia A321) took off from Rome-Fiumicino international airport at 14.10.

It is expected to land at the Monte Real air base at 16.20 local time (17.20 in Rome).

Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic

In the moment of leaving the Italian territory destined for Portugal, the Holy Father Francis sent to the President of the Italian Republic, Hon. Sergio Mattarella, the following telegram:

HIS EXCELLENCY
HON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE
00187 ROMA

IN LEAVING ITALIAN SOIL DESTINED FOR PORTUGAL, ON THE OCCASION OF THE CENTENARY OF THE APPARITIONS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY IN FATIMA, I WISH TO ADDRESS TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, MY RESPECTFUL GREETING, AND AS I INTEND TO MEET PILGRIMS AND IN PARTICULAR THE SICK WHO GO TO THAT MARIAN SANCTUARY TO FIND LIGHT AND HOPE, I INVOKE THE LORD’S BLESSING ON THE ENTIRE ITALIAN NATION AND IN PARTICULAR THOSE WHO SUFFER IN BODY AND SPIRIT.

FRANCISCUS PP.