Departure from Rome
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
Departure from Rome
Pope Francis’ 35th Apostolic Journey began this morning, this time in Cyprus and Greece.
Before leaving the Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis greeted some refugees accompanied by the Almoner of His Holiness, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski. The migrants, now resident in Italy, come from Syria, Congo, Somalia and Afghanistan. They passed through the Lesbos camp in recent years and were received upon arrival by the Sant’Egidio Community. Some of them had arrived in Italy with the Pope on the papal plane in 2016.
After leaving the Vatican, the Pope stopped at the parish of Santa Maria degli Angeli, near Fiumicino Airport, where he paused in prayer in front of the image of Our Lady of Loreto and met a group of refugees hosted by the parish community.
On arrival at Rome Fiumicino International Airport, at 11.05 a.m. the Holy Father left for Larnaca in Cyprus on board an enanced/ITA A320.
The aircraft carrying the Holy Father landed at Larnaca International Airport at 14.55 (13.55 in Rome).
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
At the moment of leaving Italian territory, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Italian Republic, Hon. Sergio Mattarella:
TO HIS EXCELLENCY HON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE
AS I LEAVE ITALIAN TERRITORY TO PAY A PASTORAL VISIT TO CYPRUS AND GREECE, AS A PILGRIM YEARNING FOR THE ANCIENT SOURCES, WITH A LIVELY DESIRE TO MEET MY BROTHERS IN FAITH AND THE LOCAL PEOPLE, I AM PLEASED TO EXTEND TO YOU, MR PRESIDENT, AND TO THE ENTIRE ITALIAN PEOPLE, THE MOST CORDIAL GREETINGS, TOGETHER WITH FERVENT WISHES FOR SERENITY AND MUTUAL COOPERATION FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Telegram to the President of the Hellenic Republic during the flight from Rome to Larnaca
During the flight towards Larnaca, Cyprus, while flying through Greek airspace, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Hellenic Republic, Ms. Katerina Sakellaropoulou:
HER EXCELLENCY KATERINA SAKELLAROPOULOU
PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC
ATHENS
AS I FLY THROUGH GREEK AIRSPACE ON MY APOSTOLIC VISIT TO CYPRUS, I OFFER PRAYERFUL BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. LOOKING FORWARD WITH GREAT PLEASURE TO MY IMMINENT VISIT TO THE REPUBLIC, I INVOKE GOD’S BLESSINGS UPON ALL.
FRANCISCUS PP.
