Departure from Rome
This morning the Pope began his 36th Apostolic Journey, this time to Malta.
Before leaving the Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis met with some families of refugees from Ukraine, hosted by the Sant’Egidio Community, accompanied by the Almoner of His Holiness. One of the families was composed of a 37-year old mother with two girls aged 5 and 7, who arrived in Italy from Lviv approximately 20 days ago. The youngest child had undergone a cardiological operation and is under medical supervision in Rome. The meeting was also attended by two mothers from Ternopil, sisters-in-law, with their four children aged between 10 and 17 years, who arrived in Rome little more than 20 days ago and are housed in an apartment offered by an Italian woman. The minors of the two families attend school in Rome. The final family present arrived in Rome three days ago, passing through Poland, and is composed of six people from Kiev – mother and father, with three children aged 16, 10 and 8, and their grandmother aged 75. They too live in a house offered by an Italian woman to host refugees.
The Pope then transferred by car to Rome-Fiumicino International Airport, where – at 8.39 – he departed for Malta on board an A320 / ITA Airways.
The aircraft landed at Malta International Airport at 9.50.
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, the Honorable Sergio Mattarella:
HIS EXCELLENCY
HON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE
AT THE MOMENT AT WHICIH I LEAVE ITALIAN TERRITORY TO PAY A PASTORAL VISIT TO MALTA, A COUNTRY OF LUMINOUS BEAUTY AT THE HEART OF THE MEDITERRANEAN, AND A CENTURIES-OLD PORT OF MANY LANDINGS AND DEPARTURES, WITH THE JOY OF MEETING BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE FAITH AND THE PEOPLE OF THE PLACE, TO YOU, MR PRESIDENT, AND TO THE ENTIRE ITALIAN PEOPLE, I SEND MY WARMEST GREETINGS AND FERVENT WISHES FOR SERENITY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
