Farewell Ceremony from Slovakia at Bratislava International Airport
Telegram to the President of the Slovak Republic
Telegrams to Heads of State
Farewell Ceremony from Slovakia at Bratislava International Airport
Following the Eucharistic celebration at the National Shrine of Šaštín, the Holy Father Francis transferred by car to Bratislava International Airport for the farewell ceremony from Slovakia.
Upon arrival, the Pope was welcomed by the President of the Republic, Mrs. Zuzana Čaputová at the entrance to the VIP Lounge, where a brief private meeting took place. Then, after the Guard of Honour and the greeting of the delegations, Pope Francis boarded an Alitalia A320 for the return flight to Italy.
The aircraft carrying the Holy Father, returning from his apostolic journey to Budapest and Slovakia, departed from Bratislava Airport at 13.48, and landed at Rome-Ciampino Airport at 15.17.
Telegram to the President of the Slovak Republic
Immediately after his departure by air from Bratislava, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Slovak Republic, Mrs. Zuzana Čaputová:
HER EXCELLENCY ZUZANA ČAPUTOVÁ
PRESIDENT OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC
BRATISLAVA
AS I DEPART SLOVAKIA AT THE CONCLUSION OF MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY, I WISH TO EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE SLOVAK PEOPLE FOR YOUR GENEROUS WELCOME AND HOSPITALITY. IN RENEWING THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE NATION’S PEACE AND WELL-BEING, I INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU GOD’S ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Telegrams to Heads of State
During the air journey from Bratislava to Rome, flying over Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and finally returning to Italy, Pope Francis sent the following telegrams to the respective Heads of State:
Overflight Hungary
HIS EXCELLENCY JÁNOS ÁDER
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY
BUDAPEST
RETURNING TO ROME AT THE CONCLUSION OF MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO BUDAPEST AND SLOVAKIA, I RENEW MY GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF HUNGARY. COMMENDING YOU ONCE MORE TO THE PROVIDENTIAL CARE OF GOD OUR FATHER, I INVOKE UPON THE NATION HIS ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Croazia
HIS EXCELLENCY ZORAN MILANOVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
ZAGREB
UPON ENTERING CROATIA’S AIRSPACE AT THE CONCLUSION OF MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO BUDAPEST AND SLOVAKIA, I RENEW MY GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, AND WILLINGLY INVOKE UPON THE NATION THE ABUNDANT BLESSINGS OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Bosnia-Erzegovina
HIS EXCELLENCY ŽELJKO KOMŠIĆ
CHAIRMAN OF THE PRESIDENCY OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
SARAJEVO
AS MY FLIGHT CARRIES ME OVER BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA AT THE CONCLUSION OF MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO BUDAPEST AND SLOVAKIA, I OFFER MY BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, AND I INVOKE UPON THE NATION ABUNDANT DIVINE BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Arrival – Italy
HIS EXCELLENCY HON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE
AS I RETURN FROM MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO BUDAPEST AND SLOVAKIA, WHERE I HAD THE JOY OF MEETING THE LOCAL POPULATIONS, RICH IN SPIRITUAL FERVOUR, I EXTEND TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, MY CORDIAL GREETING AND I ASSURE A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR THE GOOD AND THE PROSPERITY OF THE ITALIAN NATION, ON WHOM I INVOKE HEAVENLY BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
