Farewell ceremony at Malta International Airport

After the meeting with migrants at the “John XXIII Peace Lab”, the Holy Father Francis transferred by car to Malta International Airport for the farewell ceremony.

Upon arrival, the Holy Father was received by the President of the Republic, His Excellency George William Vella, at the entrance to the President Lounge and Ministerial CIP Lounge, where a brief private meeting took place.

After the execution of the anthems and the greeting of the respective delegations, the Pope boarded an A320neo/Air Malta for his return to Italy.

The aircraft carrying the Holy Father on his return from his Apostolic Journey to Malta took off from Malta International Airport at 19.15 and landed at the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Rome-Fiumicino at 20.30.

Telegram to the President of the Republic of Malta

Immediately after his departure by air from Malta, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic of Malta, His Excellency Mr. George William Vella:

HIS EXCELLENCY GEORGE VELLA
PRESIDENT OF MALTA
VALLETTA

AS I DEPART FROM MALTA ON MY RETURN TO ROME, I EXPRESS ANEW MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES AND ALL THE MALTESE PEOPLE FOR THE HEARTFELT KINDNESS AND HOSPITALITY SHOWN TO ME DURING MY VISIT. I PRAY THAT, THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLE, YOUR NATION WILL BE ABUNDANTLY BLESSED BY ALMIGHTY GOD.

FRANCISCUS PP.

Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic

Upon returning to Italy following his Apostolic Journey in Malta, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Italian Republic, His Excellency Mr. Sergio Mattarella:

HIS EXCELLENCY
HON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE

UPON RETURNING TO ITALY, AT THE END OF MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY IN MALTA, HEART OF THE MEDITERRANEAN, WHICH I INVITED TO BE UNTIRING IN PROMOTING HOPE, CARE FOR LIFE AND LEGALITY, ACCEPTANCE OF THE OTHER AND THE YEARNING FOR PEACE, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO ADDRESS DEFERENTIAL GREETINGS TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, AND TO THE ITALIAN PEOPLE, TOGETHER WITH WARM WISHES FOR THE ENTIRE NATION.

FRANCISCUS PP.