Official welcome at Bangkok Airport
Telegrams to Heads of State during the flight from Rome to Bangkok
Official welcome at Bangkok Airport
Upon arrival at Bangkok Airport, at 12.05 local time (6.05 in Rome), the Holy Father Francis was received at the foot of the front steps of the aircraft by a member of the Privy Council who offered him a floral tribute, and by Sr. Ana Rosa Sivori, of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, his cousin, who will act as interpreter during his meetings in Thailand. Then, after greeting the authorities, the Thai bishops and eleven children in traditional dress, the Pope passed through the Guard of Honour.
Immediately afterwards the Holy Father transferred by car to the apostolic nunciature of Bangkok, to be received by staff of the Pontifical Representation.
Telegrams to Heads of State during the flight from Rome to Bangkok
During the flight to Bangkok, as the aircraft passed through the airspace of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Myanmar, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegrams to the respective Heads of State:
Overflight Croatia
HER EXCELLENCY KOLINDA GRABAR-KITAROVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
ZAGREB
I EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I ENTER CROATIAN AIRSPACE ON MY WAY TO THAILAND AND JAPAN. ENTRUSTING ALL OF YOU TO ALMIGHTY GOD, I WILLINGLY INVOKE UPON THE NATION THE BLESSINGS OF JOY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Bosnia and Herzegovina
HIS EXCELLENCY ŽELJKO KOMŠIĆ
CHAIRMAN OF THE PRESIDENCY OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
SARAJEVO
AS I FLY OVER BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO THAILAND AND JAPAN, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. INVOKING THE BLESSING OF ALMIGHTY GOD UPON THE NATION, I PRAY THAT HE MAY GRANT YOU ALL PEACE AND WELL-BEING.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Serbia
HIS EXCELLENCY ALEKSANDAR VUČIĆ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
BELGRADE
I OFFER CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER SERBIA ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO THAILAND AND JAPAN, WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Montenegro
HIS EXCELLENCY MILO ĐUKANOVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO
PODGORICA
I EXTEND BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS MY JOURNEY TO THAILAND AND JAPAN TAKES ME THROUGH MONTENEGRO’S AIRSPACE, AND I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE PEACE AND WELL-BEING OF THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Bulgaria
HIS EXCELLENCY RUMEN RADEV
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
SOFIA
I OFFER PRAYERFUL BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I ENTER BULGARIAN AIRSPACE ON MY WAY TO THAILAND AND JAPAN. RECALLING WITH PLEASURE MY VISIT TO BULGARIA, I CORDIALLY INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Turkey
HIS EXCELLENCY RECEP TAYYIP ERDOĞAN
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY
ANKARA
AS I FLY OVER TURKEY ON MY WAY TO THAILAND AND JAPAN, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. INVOKING DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON THE NATION, I PRAY THAT THE ALMIGHTY MAY BLESS YOU ALL WITH PEACE AND WELL-BEING.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Iran
HIS EXCELLENCY HASSAN ROUHANI
PRESIDENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
TEHRAN
I EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER YOUR COUNTRY ON MY WAY TO THAILAND AND JAPAN. INVOKING DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON THE NATION, I PRAY THAT THE ALMIGHTY MAY GRANT YOU ALL WELL-BEING AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Afghanistan
HIS EXCELLENCY ASHRAF GHANI AHMADZAI
PRESIDENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN
KABUL
I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER AFGHANISTAN ON MY WAY TO THAILAND AND JAPAN. ASSURING YOU ALL OF MY PRAYERS, I INVOKE UPON THE NATION THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Pakistan
HIS EXCELLENCY ARIF ALVI
PRESIDENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD
AS I FLY OVER PAKISTAN ON MY WAY TO THAILAND AND JAPAN, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS, I INVOKE UPON THE NATION THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND JOY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight India
HIS EXCELLENCY RAM NATH KOVIND
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA
NEW DELHI
I EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER INDIA ON MY WAY TO THAILAND AND JAPAN FOR A PASTORAL VISIT. INVOKING THE BLESSING OF ALMIGHTY GOD, I PRAY THAT HE MAY GRANT THE NATION PEACE AND WELL-BEING.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Myanmar
HIS EXCELLENCY WIN MYINT
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR
YANGON
I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER MYANMAR ON MY WAY TO THAILAND AND JAPAN. ASSURING YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOU AND THE PEOPLE OF MYANMAR, I INVOKE UPON ALL ABUNDANT BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
