Farewell Ceremony at Baghdad International Airport
Telegrams to the President of the Republic of Iraq
Telegrams to Heads of State
Farewell Ceremony at Baghdad International Airport
This morning, after celebrating Holy Mass in private, the Holy Father Francis took leave of the staff, benefits and friends of the apostolic nunciature, and transferred by car to Baghdad International Airport for the farewell ceremony before leaving Iraq.
Upon arrival the Pope was received by the President of the Republic, Mr. Barham Ahmed Salih Qassim, and his wife, at the entrance to the Presidential VIP Lounge, where a brief private meeting took place.
Then, after the greetings of the delegations, the Holy Father boarded an Alitalia A330 for his return flight to Italy.
The aircraft carrying the Holy Father on the return trip from his Apostolic Journey in Iraq departed from Baghdad International Airport at 9.54 local time (7.54 in Rome), and is expected to land in Rome-Ciampino Airport at 12.20.
Telegram to the President of the Republic of Iraq
Immediately after his departure by air from Baghdad, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic, Mr. Barham Ahmed Salih Qassim:
HIS EXCELLENCY BARHAM SALIH
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRAQ
BAGHDAD
AS I LEAVE IRAQ AT THE CONCLUSION OF MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY, I ONCE MORE EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE BELOVED PEOPLE OF IRAQ FOR THE WARM WELCOME AND GENEROUS HOSPITALITY EXTENDED TO ME DURING MY STAY. WITH FERVENT GOOD WISHES AND PRAYERS FOR THE PEACE, UNITY AND PROSPERITY OF THE NATION, I INVOKE UPON ALL THE COPIOUS BLESSINGS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Telegrams to Heads of State
During the return flight from Baghdad to Rome, as the aircraft carrying the Holy Father flew over Turkey, Greece and Albania, before finally landing in Italy, Pope Francis sent the respective Heads of State the following telegrams:
Overflight Turkey
HIS EXCELLENCY RECEP TAYYIP ERDOĞAN
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY
ANKARA
AS I ENTER TURKISH AIRSPACE ON MY RETURN TO ROME FROM MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO IRAQ, I SEND GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND CORDIALLY INVOKE UPON YOU AND THE PEOPLE OF TURKEY THE ABUNDANT BLESSINGS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Greece
HER EXCELLENCY KATERINA SAKELLAROPOULOU
PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC
ATHENS
FLYING OVER GREECE ON MY RETURN TO ROME FROM MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO IRAQ, I RENEW MY GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND CORDIALLY INVOKE UPON YOU AND THE PEOPLE OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC GOD’S CHOICEST BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Albania
HIS EXCELLENCY ILIR META
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
TIRANA
ENTERING ALBANIAN AIRSPACE EN ROUTE TO ROME FOLLOWING MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO IRAQ, I EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOU, WITH PRAYERS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL GRANT YOU AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS EVERY BLESSING OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Arrival - Italy
HIS EXCELLENCY HON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE 00187 ROME
UPON RETURNING FROM MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY IN IRAQ, WHERE I WAS ABLE TO MEET CHRISTIANS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER RELIGIONS, BEARING WITNESS TO THE EFFORT TO ADVANCE, IN A SPIRIT OF SHARING, ON A PATH OF DIALOGUE AND HARMONY, I EXPRESS TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, MY CORDIAL GREETING AND I ASSURE YOU OF A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR THE BELOVED ITALIAN NATION, TO WHOM I IMPART MY BLESSING.
FRANCISCUS PP.
