This morning Pope Francis began his 30th International Apostolic Trip, this time to Romania.

At 7.30, after leaving the Vatican, the Holy Father transferred by car to Roma-Fiumicino International Airport. He departed for Bucharest at 8.16, on board an Alitalia A320.

Before leaving the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Holy Father Francis greeted a group of fifteen homeless people of Romanian origin who live in Rome, accompanied by the Apostolic Almoner. In particular, some of them are guests of the “Dono di Misericordia”, while others live in the area of Saint Peter’s and are assisted by the Office of Papal Charity.

The aircraft carrying the Holy Father Francis landed at Bucharest International Airport at 11.09 local time (10.09 in Rome).

Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic

At the moment of leaving Italian territory, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Italian Republic, Hon. Sergio Mattarella:

HIS EXCELLENCY
HON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE 00187 ROME

AS I PREPARE TO LEAVE FOR MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO ROMANIA, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO ADDRESS TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, AND TO ALL ITALIANS, MY AFFECTIONATE AND AUSPICIOUS GREETING, WHICH I ACCOMPANY WITH EVERY CORDIAL AND PRAYERFUL WISH FOR PEACE AND SERENITY.

FRANCISCUS PP.

During the flight, the Holy Father sent telegrams of greeting to the Heads of  State of the countries through whose airspace the aircraft passed: Croatia (Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Milorad Dodik), Montenegro (Milo Đukanović), Serbia (Aleksandar Vučić) and Bulgaria (Rumen Radev).