Farewell ceremony at Tocumen International Airport and return to Rome
Telegram to the President of the Republic of Panama
Telegrams to Heads of State
Farewell ceremony
At 17.30 local time (23.30 in Rome), the Holy Father Francis arrived at Tocumen International Airport, where the farewell ceremony at the end of his trip to Panama took place.
Upon arrival the Pope was received by the President of the Republic, Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez, and his wife, in the specially prepared room where a brief meeting took place.
After the performance of the anthems and the greeting to the bishops, the Pope boarded an AVIANCA B787 for his return flight to Rome.
The aircraft carrying the Holy Father to Rome following his apostolic trip to Panama departed at 18.25 local time (00.25 in Rome), and is expected to land at Rome-Ciampino airport at 11.15, Monday 28 January.
Telegram to the President of the Republic of Panama
Immediately after his departure by air from Panama, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic, Mr. Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez:
HIS EXCELLENCY JUAN CARLOS VARELA RODRIGUEZ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA
PANAMA CITY
RETURNING TO ROME AT THE CONCLUSION OF MY APOSTOLIC VISIT TO PANAMA I ONCE AGAIN EXPRESS THANKSGIVING TO ALMIGHTY GOD FOR THE MANY GRACES RECEIVED OVER THE PAST DAYS. WITH RENEWED GRATITUDE FOR THE HOSPITALITY I HAVE RECEIVED, I ASSURE YOUR EXCELLENCY AND ALL THE BELOVED PEOPLE OF PANAMA OF MY CONTINUED PRAYERS FOR THE PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF THE NATION. AS A PLEDGE OF JOY IN THE LORD, I GLADLY INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU GOD’S ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Telegrams to Heads of State
During his flight from Panama to Rome, flying over Colombia, Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, USA Oceanic, Portugal, Spain, France and, finally re-entering Italy, the Pope sent the following telegrams to the respective Heads of State:
Overflight Colombia
HIS EXCELLENCY IVÁN DUQUE MÁRQUEZ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA
BOGOTA
AS MY RETURN FLIGHT FROM MY APOSTOLIC VISIT TO PANAMA TAKES ME OVER COLOMBIA, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. COMMENDING THE NATION TO THE CARE OF THE ALMIGHTY, I WILLINGLY INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU GOD’S ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Curaçao
HIS MAJESTY WILLEM-ALEXANDER
KING OF THE NETHERLANDS
EN ROUTE TO ROME AT THE CONCLUSION OF MY APOSTOLIC VISIT TO PANAMA, I ONCE AGAIN GREET THE PEOPLE OF THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN, INVOKING UPON THEM THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE, HEALTH AND PROSPERITY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Dominican Republic
HIS EXCELLENCY DANILO MEDINA SÁNCHEZ
PRESIDENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
SANTO DOMINGO
AS I FLY OVER THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ON MY RETURN JOURNEY FROM PANAMA TO ROME, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. ENTRUSTING THE NATION TO THE PROVIDENCE OF THE ALMIGHTY, I WILLINGLY INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU GOD’S ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Puerto Rico and USA
THE HONORABLE DONALD J. TRUMP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
WASHINGTON
AS MY RETURN JOURNEY TO ROME AT THE CONCLUSION OF MY APOSTOLIC VISIT TO PANAMA TAKES ME ONCE MORE THROUGH THE AIRSPACE OF THE UNITED STATES, I CORDIALLY RENEW MY PRAYERS THAT ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE NATION MAY ENJOY THE ABUNDANT BLESSINGS OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Portugal
HIS EXCELLENCY MARCELO REBELO DE SOUSA
PRESIDENT OF THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC
LISBON
AS MY RETURN JOURNEY TO ROME FOLLOWING MY APOSTOLIC VISIT TO PANAMA TAKES ME ONCE MORE THROUGH PORTUGUESE AIRSPACE, I CORDIALLY RENEW MY PRAYERS THAT ALL THE PEOPLE OF PORTUGAL MAY BE FILLED WITH THE ABUNDANT BLESSINGS OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Spain
HIS MAJESTY FELIPE VI
KING OF SPAIN
MADRID
RETURNING TO ROME FOLLOWING MY APOSTOLIC VISIT TO PANAMA, I ONCE AGAIN SEND WARM GREETINGS TO YOUR MAJESTY, THE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, AND THE PEOPLE OF SPAIN, WITH RENEWED PRAYERS FOR THE SECURITY, WELLBEING AND PROSPERITY OF ALL.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight France
HIS EXCELLENCY EMMANUEL MACRON
PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
PARIS
RETURNING TO ROME AT THE CONCLUSION OF MY APOSTOLIC VISIT TO PANAMA, I ONCE AGAIN EXPRESS MY CORDIAL BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF FRANCE. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS, I GLADLY INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU ALMIGHTY GOD’S BLESSINGS OF JOY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Arrival – Italy
HIS EXCELLENCY
HON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE
UPON RETURNING FROM MY APOSTOLIC TRIP TO PANAMA, WHERE I MET COURAGEOUS YOUNG PEOPLE INSPIRED BY THE DESIRE TO BUILD A FUTURE OF PEACE AND FRATERNITY, BEARING WITNESS TO PERENNIAL CHRISTIAN VALUES, I SEND TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, AND TO THE BELOVED ITALIAN NATION MY CORDIAL GREETING, ASSURING YOU ALL OF A SPECIAL PRAYER
FRANCISCUS PP.
