Farewell ceremony at the Presidential Airport of Abu Dhabi and return to Rome
Telegram to the President of the United Arab Emirates
Telegrams to Heads of State
Farewell ceremony at the Presidential Airport of Abu Dhabi and return to Rome
At 12.50 local time (9.50 in Rome), the Holy Father Francis arrived at the Presidential Airport of Abu Dhabi where the farewell ceremony took place prior to leaving the United Arab Emirates.
Upon arrival, the Pope was received by the Crown Prince, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The Holy Father and the Crown Prince were then greeted by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin; His Eminence Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches; His Eminence Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; H.E. Msgr. Edgar Peña Parra, substitute of the Secretariat of State; H.E. Msgr. Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.J., secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; the United Arab Emirates delegation and the local entourage. Pope Francis then boarded an Etihad B787 to return to Italy.
The aircraft carrying the Holy Father on the return trip of his apostolic journey to the United Arab Emirates left Abu Dhabi at 13.23 local time (10.23 in Rome) and landed at Rome-Ciampino Airport at 16.15.
Telegram to the President of the United Arab Emirates
Immediately after departure by air from Abu Dhabi, the Holy Father Francis sent the Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates, the following telegram:
HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH KHALIFA BIN ZAYED AL-NAHYAN
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
ABU DHABI
AS I DEPART FROM THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, I RENEW MY DEEP APPRECIATION TO YOUR HIGHNESS, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES FOR YOUR WARM WELCOME AND GENEROUS HOSPITALITY. I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS AND INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU ABUNDANT DIVINE BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Telegrams to Heads of State
During the flight from Abu Dhabi to Rome, flying over Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and finally returning to Italy, the Pope sent the following telegrams to the respective Heads of State:
Overflight Bahrain
HIS MAJESTY SHEIKH HAMAD BIN ISA AL-KHALIFA
KING OF BAHRAIN
MANAMA
I RENEW MY BEST WISHES TO YOUR MAJESTY AND THE PEOPLE OF BAHRAIN AS I FLY THROUGH YOUR AIRSPACE ON MY RETURN FROM THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, AND I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOUR NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Saudi Arabia
HIS MAJESTY SALMAN BIN ABDUL AZIZ ALSAUD
KING OF SAUDI ARABIA
RIYADH
RETURNING TO ROME AFTER MY VISIT TO THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, I EXTEND MY GREETINGS TO YOUR MAJESTY AND THE PEOPLE OF SAUDI ARABIA. UPON ALL OF YOU I INVOKE ABUNDANT DIVINE BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Egypt
HIS EXCELLENCY ABDEL FATTAH AL-SISI
PRESIDENT OF ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
CAIRO
I SEND MY BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS ON MY RETURN FROM THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, AND I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Greece
HIS EXCELLENCY PROKOPIS PAVLOPOULOS
PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC
ATHENS
RETURNING TO ROME AFTER MY VISIT TO THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, I RENEW MY GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, AND UPON ALL OF YOU I INVOKE ABUNDANT DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND JOY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Arrival – Italy
HIS EXCELLENCY
HON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
QUIRINAL PALACE
00187 ROME
ON RETURNING FROM MY APOSTOLIC TRIP TO THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, WHERE I WAS ABLE TO MEET CHRISTIANS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER RELIGIONS, BEARING WITNESS TO THE COMMITMENT TO A JOINT PATH OF HARMONY AND SOLIDARITY, I EXPRESS TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, MY CORDIAL GREETING, AND THE ASSURANCE OF A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR THE ENTIRE ITALIAN NATION, TO WHOM I SEND MY AFFECTIONATE BLESSING.
FRANCISCUS PP.
