During the flight commencing this morning from Rome to Colombia, passing over France, Spain, Portugal (Azures), the United States (Ocean and Puerto Rico), and, changing route due to Hurricane Irma over the Caribbean, Barbados, Grenada, and finally Venezuela before reaching Bogotá, the Holy Father Francis sent the respective Heads of States the following telegrams:
Overflight France
HIS EXCELLENCY EMMANUEL MACRON
PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
PARIS
AS MY APOSTOLIC VOYAGE TO COLOMBIA TAKES ME OVER FRANCE, I SEND WARM GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS THAT ALL IN THE NATION MAY BE ABUNDANTLY BLESSED BY ALMIGHTY GOD.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Spain
HIS MAJESTY KING FELIPE VI
KING OF SPAIN
MADRID
I EXTEND WARM GREETINGS TO YOUR MAJESTY, THE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, AND ALL THE SPANISH PEOPLE AS MY JOURNEY TO COLOMBIA TAKES ME OVER SPAIN. ENTRUSTING THE NATION TO THE PROVIDENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD, I WILLINGLY INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU GOD’S BLESSINGS OF CONCORD AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Portugal (Azures)
HIS EXCELLENCY MARCELO REBELO DE SOUSA
PRESIDENT OF THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC
LISBON
AS MY JOURNEY TO COLOMBIA TAKES ME THROUGH PORTUGUESE AIRSPACE, I SEND WARM GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. ASSURING YOU OF MY PRAYERS THAT ALL MAY ENJOY PEACE AND PROSPERITY, I WILLINGLY INVOKE UPON THE NATION GOD’S ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight United States of America (Ocean and Puerto Rico)
THE HONORABLE DONALD TRUMP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
WASHINGTON
AS I TRAVEL THROUGH UNITED STATES AIRSPACE ON MY APOSTOLIC VISIT TO COLOMBIA, I EXTEND WARM GREETINGS TO YOU AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, INVOKING UPON ALL OF YOU ALMIGHTY GOD’S ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Barbados
HIS EXCELLENCY SIR PHILIP GREAVES
GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF BARBADOS
BRIDGETOWN
AS MY JOURNEY TO COLOMBIA TAKES ME OVER BARBADOS, I OFFER TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF THE NATION THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS, AND I WILLINGLY INVOKE GOD’S ABUNDANT BLESSINGS UPON YOU ALL.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Grenada
HER EXCELLENCY DAME CÉCILE LA GRENADE
GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF GRENADA
SAINT GEORGE’S
I EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF GRENADA AS I FLY THROUGH THE NATION’S AIRSPACE ON MY WAY TO COLOMBIA. INVOKING ALMIGHTY GOD’S BLESSINGS UPON YOU, I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS AND GOOD WISHES.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Venezuela
HIS EXCELLENCY NICOLÁS MADURO
PRESIDENT OF THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA
CARACAS
AS MY APOSTOLIC VISIT TO COLOMBIA TAKES ME OVER VENEZUELA, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA. PRAYING THAT ALL IN THE NATION MAY PROMOTE PATHS OF SOLIDARITY, JUSTICE AND CONCORD, I WILLINGLY INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU GOD’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
