Departure from Rome, arrival and official welcome at Edmonton Airport
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
Telegrams to Heads of State
Departure from Rome, arrival and official welcome at Edmonton Airport
This morning Pope Francis began his 37th international Apostolic Journey, this time in Canada.
After leaving Santa Marta, the Holy Father transferred by car to Rome-Fiumicino International Airport, where at 9.16 he departed on board an A330/ITA Airways aircraft bound for Edmonton, Canada.
The aircraft landed at Edmonton International Airport at 11.09 (19.09 in Rome).
Upon arrival, the Holy Father Francis was received by the Governor General of Canada, the Honorable Mary Simon, with her husband, by the Prime Minister, His Excellency Mr. Justin Trudeau, and by a representation of the indigenous peoples in traditional dress.
The Pope then entered Edmonton airport and, after the performance of a traditional welcome song in an autochthonous language, the greetings from some representatives of the First Nations, the presentation of the respective delegations and the Guard of Honour, the Governor General and the Prime Minister accompanied Pope Francis to the VIP Hall of the airport, where a brief meeting took place.
At the end of the private meeting, the Holy Father took leave of the Governor General and the Prime Minister, and transferred by car to the Saint Joseph Seminary.
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
At the time 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
THE HONORABLE SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE
00186 ROME
AS I AM ABOUT TO MAKE AN APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO CANADA, MOVED ABOVE ALL BY A KEEN DESIRE TO MEET THE LOCAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, IT IS WITH PLEASURE THAT I ADDRESS TO YOU, MR PRESIDENT, MY RESPECTFUL GREETING, WHICH I ACCOMPANY WITH FERVENT PRAYERS FOR THE GOOD OF THE ITALIAN PEOPLE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Telegrams to Heads of State
During the flight to Edmonton, as the aircraft passed above Switzerland, France, the United Kingdom, Iceland and finally Denmark (Greenland), the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegrams to the respective Heads of State:
Overflight - Switzerland
HIS EXCELLENCY IGNAZIO CASSIS
PRESIDENT OF THE SWISS CONFEDERATION
BERN
AS I FLY OVER SWITZERLAND ON MY WAY TO CANADA, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, TOGETHER WITH MY PRAYERS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL BLESS ALL OF YOU WITH UNITY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight - France
HIS EXCELLENCY EMMANUEL MACRON
PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
PARIS
AS I TRAVEL TO CANADA, I SEND GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF FRANCE. ASSURING ALL OF YOU OF MY PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCE, I INVOKE UPON THE NATION ALMIGHTY GOD’S BLESSINGS OF SERENITY AND JOY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight – United Kingdom
HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
LONDON
AS I FLY OVER THE UNITED KINGDOM EN ROUTE TO CANADA, I SEND GREETINGS OF GOOD WISHES TO YOUR MAJESTY, THE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE REALM. I PRAY THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL BLESS YOU WITH HIS GIFTS OF STRENGTH, JOY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight - Iceland
HIS EXCELLENCY GUÐNI THORLACIUS JÓHANNESSON
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ICELAND
REYKJAVÍK
I SEND GREETINGS AND GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER ICELAND ON MY JOURNEY TO CANADA, TOGETHER WITH PRAYERS THAT GOD WILL BLESS ALL IN THE NATION WITH HIS GIFTS OF SERENITY AND JOY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight – Denmark (Greenland)
HER MAJESTY MARGRETHE II
QUEEN OF DENMARK
AMALIENBORG PALACE
COPENHAGEN
AS MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO CANADA TAKES ME OVER GREENLAND, I SEND GREETINGS TO YOUR MAJESTY, TOGETHER WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS AND GOOD WISHES FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE TERRITORY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
