Farewell Ceremony in Thailand at Bangkok Airport
Telegram to the King of Thailand
Telegrams to Heads of State during the flight from Bangkok to Rome
Welcome Ceremony at Tokyo-Haneda Airport
Farewell Ceremony in Thailand at Bangkok Airport
This morning, after celebrating Mass in private, at 8:20 local time (2:20 in Rome), the Holy Father Francis bade farewell to the staff of the apostolic nunciature and the benefactors, and transferred by car to Bangkok’s Military Air Terminal 2 for the farewell ceremony from Thailand.
Upon arrival, at 9:15 local time (15:15 Rome time), the Pope was welcomed by a member of the Privy Council and, together, before crossing the Guard of Honour, they greeted eleven Thai children, the bishops, the local entourage and some members of the Thai authorities. Then the Holy Father, after receiving a floral tribute from the deputy prime minister of Thailand, boarded a Thai Airways International A330 bound for Tokyo.
The aircraft carrying the Holy Father departed from Bangkok Airport at 9:54 local time (3:54 in Rome), and landed at Tokyo-Haneda Airport at 17:25 local time (9:25 in Rome).
Telegram to the King of Thailand
Immediately after his departure by air from Bangkok, the Holy Father Francis sent to His Majesty the King of Thailand, Maha Vajiralongkorn Rama X, the following telegraphic message:
HIS MAJESTY MAHA VAJIRALONGKORN RAMA X
KING OF THAILAND
BANGKOK
AS I LEAVE THAILAND TO CONTINUE MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO JAPAN, I RENEW MY DEEP APPRECIATION TO YOUR MAJESTY, THE ROYAL FAMILY AND THE BELOVED PEOPLE OF THAILAND FOR YOUR WARM WELCOME AND GENEROUS HOSPITALITY. INVOKING ABUNDANT DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON ALL OF YOU, I OFFER THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR PEACE AND HARMONY IN THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Telegrams to Heads of State during the flight from Bangkok to Rome
During the flight from Bangkok to Tokyo, while flying over Laos, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, the Pope sent the following telegraphic messages to the respective Heads of State:
Overflight Laos
HIS EXCELLENCY BOUNNHANG VORACHITH
PRESIDENT OF THE LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
VIENTIANE
I EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, AS I ENTER LAOTIAN AIR SPACE. PRAYING THAT YOUR NATION MAY BE BLESSED WITH PEACE AND WELL-BEING, I INVOKE DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON ALL.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Vietnam
HIS EXCELLENCY Nguyễn Phú Trọng
PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
HANOI
AS I FLY OVER VIETNAM ON MY WAY TO JAPAN, I EXTEND TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS MY BEST WISHES. INVOKING DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON YOU ALL, I PRAY THAT PEACE AND WELL-BEING MAY FLOURISH IN THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Cina
HIS EXCELLENCY xI jINPING
PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC of cHINA
BEIJING
I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER CHINA ON MY WAY TO JAPAN. I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE NATION AND ITS PEOPLE, INVOKING UPON ALL OF YOU ABUNDANT BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND JOY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Hong Kong
HER EXCELLENCY CARRIE LAM
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF HONG KONG SPECIAL
ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
AS I FLY OVER YOUR TERRITORY, I EXTEND MY BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. INVOKING DIVINE BLESSINGS, I PRAY THAT ALMIGHTY GOD MAY GRANT YOU ALL WELL-BEING AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Taiwan
HER EXCELLENCY Tsai Ing-wen
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN)
TAIPEI
AS I ENTER THE AIRSPACE OF TAIWAN ON MY WAY TO JAPAN, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. ASSURING YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF TAIWAN, I INVOKE ABUNDANT DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Welcome Ceremony at Tokyo-Haneda Airport
Upon arrival at Tokyo-Haneda Airport, the Holy Father Francis was received at the foot of the steps to the aircraft by the deputy prime minister of Japan, His Excellency Tarō Asō. Two children in traditional costume offered him a floral tribute, in the presence of around one hundred students from Catholic schools. Then, after greeting the respective delegations and passing through the Guard of Honour, the Pope and the deputy prime minister had a brief private meeting in the VIP 3 Hall of the airport.
The Holy Father then transferred by car to the apostolic nunciature of Tokyo, where upon arrival he was received in the courtyard by a group of two hundred faithful, and at the entrance to the house by the staff of the nunciature.
