Departure from Rome, arrival and official welcome in Myanmar
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
Telegrams to Heads of State
Departure from Rome, arrival and official welcome in Myanmar
The Holy Father Francis’ 21st international apostolic trip, to Myanmar and Bangladesh, has commenced.
The aircraft carrying the Holy Father (an Alitalia A330) departed from Rome-Fiumicino International Airport at 22.10 and landed at Yangon International Airport at 13.20 Monday (7.50 Rome time).
Upon arrival, the Pope was welcomed by a Minister Delegate of the President of the Republic. The bishops of Myanmar and around one hundred children in traditional dress were present.
The Holy Father then transferred by car to the Archbishopric of Yangon.
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
Upon leaving Italian territory, headed for Myanmar, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Italian Republic, the Hon. Sergio Mattarella:
HIS EXCELLENCY
HON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALAZZO QUIRINALE
AS I LEAVE ROME TO VISIT MYANMAR AND BANGLADESH AS A PILGRIM OF PEACE, TO ENCOURAGE THE SMALL BUT FERVENT CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES AND TO MEET BELIEVERS OF DIFFERENT FAITHS, I WISH TO ADDRESS TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, MY RESPECTFUL GREETING, WHICH I ACCOMPANY WITH MY PRAYER FOR THE ITALIAN PEOPLE, THAT THEY MAY LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE AND HOPE, CONSTRUCTING THE COMMON GOOD WITH ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF ALL CITIZENS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Telegrams to Heads of State
During his flight from Rome to Myanmar, in flying through the airspace of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and finally India before arriving in Yangon, the Holy Father Francis sent the respective Heads of State the following telegrams:
Overflight Croatia
HER EXCELLENCY KOLINDA GRABAR-KITAROVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
ZAGREB
AS I FLY THROUGH CROATIAN AIRSPACE ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO MYANMAR AND BANGLADESH, I EXTEND BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, AND I ASSURE YOU ALL OF MY PRAYERS FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Bosnia and Herzegovina
HIS EXCELLENCY DRAGAN ČOVIĆ
CHAIRMAN OF THE PRESIDENCY OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
SARAJEVO
I OFFER BEST WISHES AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS AS MY JOURNEY TO MYANMAR AND BANGLADESH TAKES ME OVER BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. ENTRUSTING YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS TO THE ALMIGHTY, I WILLINGLY INVOKE UPON YOU THE BLESSINGS OF JOY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Montenegro
HIS EXCELLENCY FILIP VUJANOVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO
PODGORICA
AS I TRAVEL OVER MONTENEGRO ON MY APOSTOLIC VISIT TO MYANMAR AND BANGLADESH, I OFFER BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD MAY BLESS THE NATION WITH PROSPERITY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Serbia
HIS EXCELLENCY ALEKSANDAR VUČIĆ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
BELGRADE
AS MY JOURNEY TO MYANMAR AND BANGLADESH TAKES ME THROUGH SERBIAN AIRSPACE, I SEND GREETINGS 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 Bulgaria
HIS EXCELLENCY RUMEN RADEV
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
SOFIA
AS I FLY THROUGH YOUR AIRSPACE ON MY VISIT TO MYANMAR AND BANGLADESH, I OFFER PRAYERFUL BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF BULGARIA, AND I INVOKE GOD’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND STRENGTH UPON THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Turkey
HIS EXCELLENCY RECEP TAYYIP ERDOĞAN
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY
ANKARA
I SEND GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF TURKEY AS I TRAVEL OVER THE NATION ON MY JOURNEY TO MYANMAR AND BANGLADESH. UPON ALL OF YOU I INVOKE THE ALMIGHTY’S ABUNDANT BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND STRENGTH.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Georgia
HIS EXCELLENCY GIORGI MARGVELASHVILI
PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA
TBILISI
AS I TRAVEL OVER GEORGIA ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO MYANMAR AND BANGLADESH, I OFFER YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS THE ASSURANCE OF MY BEST WISHES AND PRAYERS, AND I ASK ALMIGHTY GOD TO BLESS THE NATION WITH THE GIFTS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Azerbaijan
HIS EXCELLENCY ILHAM ALIYEV
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
BAKU
AS I TRAVEL OVER AZERBAIJAN ON MY APOSTOLIC VISIT TO MYANMAR AND BANGLADESH, I EXTEND BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF THE NATION, WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS THAT YOU MAY ALL BE GRANTED AN ABUNDANCE OF DIVINE BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Turkmenistan
HIS EXCELLENCY GURBANGULY BERDIMUHAMEDOW
PRESIDENT OF TURKMENISTAN
ASHGABAT
AS I TRAVEL THROUGH THE AIRSPACE OF TURKMENISTAN ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO MYANMAR AND BANGLADESH, I OFFER GREETINGS AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS THAT THE ALMIGHTY WILL GRANT JUSTICE AND PEACE TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Afghanistan
HIS EXCELLENCY ASHRAF GHANI
PRESIDENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN
KABUL
I EXTEND BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE NATION AS I FLY OVER AFGHANISTAN ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO MYANMAR AND BANGLADESH. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOU, I INVOKE THE ALMIGHTY’S BLESSINGS OF HARMONY AND PEACE UPON THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Pakistan
HIS EXCELLENCY MAMNOON HUSSAIN
PRESIDENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD
I EXTEND BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, AS I TRAVEL THROUGH PAKISTANI AIRSPACE ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO MYANMAR AND BANGLADESH. INVOKING THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND WELL-BEING UPON THE NATION, I OFFER THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOU ALL.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight India
HIS EXCELLENCY RAM NATH KOVIND
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA
NEW DELHI
AS I TRAVEL THROUGH INDIAN AIRSPACE ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO MYANMAR AND BANGLADESH, I EXTEND PRAYERFUL BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, AND I INVOKE THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF CONCORD AND PROSPERITY UPON THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
