Farewell Ceremony

This afternoon, at 17.10 (16.10 in Rome), the Holy Father Francis arrived at Sibiu Airport, where the farewell ceremony concluding his visit to Romania took place.

Upon arrival, the Pope was received by the president of Romania, Klaus Werner Iohannis, and his wife, at the entrance to the VIP Lounge, where they met privately for a few minutes. Then, after passing the Guard of Honour and greeting the delegations, Pope Francis boarded a TAROM B737/800 to return to Italy.

The aircraft that carried the Pope on the return journey following his apostolic trip to Romania departed from Sibiu Airport at 17.42 (16.42 in Rome) and landed at Rome-Ciampino airport at 18.10.

Telegram to the president of Romania

Immediately after boarding the aircraft in Sibiu, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of Romania, Mr. Klaus Werner Iohannis:

HIS EXCELLENCY KLAUS IOHANNIS
PRESIDENT OF ROMANIA
BUCHAREST

AS I LEAVE ROMANIA, I WISH TO EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE GOVERNMENT AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF ROMANIA FOR YOUR CORDIAL WELCOME AND GENEROUS HOSPITALITY. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS, I INVOKE UPON the NATION THE ABUNDANT BLESSINGS OF ALMIGHTY GOD.

FRANCISCUS PP.

During the return flight, the Pope sent telegrams to Heads of States as the aircraft passed through their airspace: Serbia (Aleksandar Vučić), Montenegro (Milo Đukanović), Bosnia and Herzegovina, (Milorad Dodik), Croatia, (Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović) and Italy (Sergio Mattarella), expressing his best wishes to the people and their governors, and assuring them of his prayers.