Official Farewell from Peru at Lima Airport and return to Rome

At 18.30 local time (00.30 in Rome), the Holy Father Francis arrived at Lima International Airport where the official farewell from Peru took place.

Upon arrival the Pope was greeted by the President of the Republic and his wife in the Presidential Lounge, where a brief meeting took place.

After military honours and the greeting of the respective Delegations, the Holy Father boarded a LATAM B767 to return to Italy.

The aircraft carrying the Pope to Rome after his Apostolic Trip to Chile and Peru took off at 19.10 local time today, Sunday 21 January (01.10 in Rome, Monday 22 January), and is expected to land at Rome-Ciampino Airport at 14.15 on Monday 22 January.

Telegram to the President of the Republic of Peru

Immediately after his departure from Lima, the Holy Father sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic of Peru, Mr. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski:

HIS EXCELLENCY PEDRO PABLO KUCZYNSKI
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF PERU
LIMA

AS I LEAVE PERU, I WISH TO EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BELOVED PEOPLE OF PERU FOR YOUR WARM WELCOME AND GENEROUS HOSPITALITY. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS, I INVOKE UPON THE NATION THE BLESSING OF ALMIGHTY GOD.

FRANCISCUS PP.