Farewell Ceremony
Telegram to the President of the Republic of Ireland
Telegrams to Heads of State during flight from Dublin to Rome
Farewell Ceremony
This afternoon, at 18.15 local time (19.15 in Rome), the official farewell ceremony concluding the Holy Father’s apostolic trip to Ireland took place in Dublin International Airport.
Upon arrival the Holy Father Francis was received, at the foot of the aircraft, by the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar. Also present were Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, president of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life; H.E. Msgr. Eamon Martin, president of the Episcopal Conference of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland; H.E. Diarmuid Martin, archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland; H.E. Msgr. Michael Neary, archbishop of Tuam; H.E. Msgr. Kieran O’Reilly, S.M.A., archbishop of Cashel and Emly; and the local entourage.
The aircraft (an Aer Lingus A321) carrying the Pope on the return flight following his trip to the Republic of Ireland took off at 18.45 local time (19.45 in Rome) and landed at Rome-Ciampino Airport at 22.30.
Telegram to the President of the Republic of Ireland
Immediately after departure, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins:
HIS EXCELLENCY MICHAEL D. HIGGINS
PRESIDENT OF IRELAND
DUBLIN
AS I LEAVE IRELAND, I WISH TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BELOVED PEOPLE OF IRELAND FOR THE WARM WELCOME AND HOSPITALITY I HAVE RECEIVED. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS, I INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU ALMIGHTY GOD’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE, FRATERNITY and PROSPERITY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Telegrams to Heads of State during flight from Dublin to Rome
During the flight from Dublin to Rome, when flying through the airspace of the United Kingdom, France and Switzerland, and finally entering Italy, the Pope sent the following telegrams to the respective Heads of State:
Overflight United Kingdom
HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
LONDON
ON MY RETURN JOURNEY TO ROME, I SEND GREETINGS TO YOUR MAJESTY, THE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, AND THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. ENTRUSTING THE NATION TO THE PROVIDENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD, I WILLINGLY INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF JOY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight France
HIS EXCELLENCY EMMANUEL MACRON
PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
PARIS
FLYING ONCE MORE THROUGH FRENCH AIRPACE, ON MY RETURN JOURNEY TO ROME, I CORDIALLY RENEW MY PRAYERS FOR YOU AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS THAT YOU ALL MAY ENJOY THE BLESSINGS OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Switzerland
HIS EXCELLENCY ALAIN BERSET
PRESIDENT OF THE SWISS CONFEDERATION
BERN
RETURNING TO ROME AT THE CONCLUSION OF MY PASTORAL VISIT TO IRELAND, I ONCE AGAIN EXPRESS MY CORDIAL BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF SWITZERLAND. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS, I GLADLY INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU ALMIGHTY GOD’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND JOY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Return to Italy
HIS EXCELLENCY
HON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE
00187 ROME
UPON RETURNING FROM MY APOSTOLIC TRIP TO IRELAND, WHERE I WAS ABLE TO ENCOUNTER MANY FAITHFUL AND FAMILIES FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES, INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIAL REPRESENTATION FROM THE DEAR ITALIAN ECCLESIAL COMMUNITY, I EXPRESS TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, MY CORDIAL GREETING. AS I THINK WITH APPRECIATION OF THOSE WHO IN ITALY TOO, WITH GENEROSITY AND A SPIRIT OF SERVICE, WORK TO DEFEND AND PROMOTE THE INSTITUTION OF THE FAMILY, THE CELL OF SOCIETY, I ASSURE A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR THE GOOD AND THE HARMONY OF THE ITALIAN NATION, UPON WHICH I INVOKE THE LORD’S BLESSING.
FRANCISCUS PP.
