Departure from Rome
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
Telegram to Heads of State during the flight from Rome to Nur-Sultan
Departure from Rome
This morning Pope Francis began his 38th International Apostolic Journey, to Kazakhstan on the occasion of the Seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
After leaving Casa Santa Marta, the Holy Father transferred by car to Roma-Fiumicino International Airport, from where, at 7.36, he departed on board on A330/ITA Airways aircraft bound for Nur-Sultan.
The aircraft carrying the Holy Father landed at Nur-Sultan Airport at 17.20 (approximately 13.20 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, the Honorable Sergio Mattarella:
HIS EXCELLENCY
HON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE
AS I AM ABOUT TO LEAVE ITALIAN TERRITORY TO MAKE AN APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO KAZAKHSTAN, TO TAKE PART IN THE CONGRESS OF LEADERS OF WORLD AND TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS, I WISH TO EXTEND TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, AND TO ALL ITALIANS, MY CORDIAL GREETING, WHICH I ACCOMPANY WITH WISHES FOR SERENITY AND CONCORD, TOGETHER WITH PRAYER TO GOD FOR THE GOOD AND THE PROGRESS OF THE ENTIRE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Telegram to Heads of State during the flight from Rome to Nur-Sultan
During the flight to Nur-Sultan, as the aircraft passed over Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Turukey, Georgia and finally Azerbaijan, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegrams to the respective Heads of State:
Overflight Croatia
HIS EXCELLENCY ZORAN MILANOVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
ZAGREB
PASSING THROUGH CROATIAN AIRSPACE ON MY WAY TO KAZAKHSTAN, I SEND GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. INVOKING THE BLESSINGS OF ALMIGHTY GOD UPON THE NATION, I PRAY THAT HE MAY GRANT ALL OF YOU THE GIFTS OF UNITY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Bosnia and Herzegovina
HIS EXCELLENCY ŠEFIK DŽAFEROVIĆ
CHAIR OF THE PRESIDENCY OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
SARAJEVO
FLYING OVER BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA EN ROUTE TO KAZAKHSTAN, I SEND GREETINGS AND GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, TOGETHER WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR ALL IN THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Serbia
HIS EXCELLENCY ALEKSANDAR VUČIĆ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
BELGRADE
AS I FLY OVER SERBIA ON MY JOURNEY TO KAZAKHSTAN, I SEND GREETINGS OF GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, TOGETHER WITH MY PRAYERS THAT THE ALMIGHTY WILL BESTOW UPON ALL OF YOU HIS ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Montenegro
HIS EXCELLENCY MILO ĐUKANOVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO
PODGORICA
AS I FLY OVER MONTENEGRO ON MY JOURNEY TO KAZAKHSTAN, I SEND GREETINGS OF GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, TOGETHER WITH MY PRAYERS THAT THE ALMIGHTY WILL BESTOW UPON ALL OF YOU HIS ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Bulgaria
HIS EXCELLENCY RUMEN RADEV
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
SOFIA
I SEND GREETINGS AND GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER BULGARIA ON MY JOURNEY TO KAZAKHSTAN, TOGETHER WITH PRAYERS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL BLESS ALL IN THE NATION WITH HIS GIFTS OF JOY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Turkey
HIS EXCELLENCY RECEP TAYYIP ERDOĞAN
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TÜRKIYE
ANKARA
FLYING OVER TÜRKIYE ON MY WAY TO KAZAKHSTAN, I SEND GREETINGS AND GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, TOGETHER WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF ALL IN THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Georgia
HER EXCELLENCY SALOMÉ ZOURABICHVILI
PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA
TBILISI
I SEND GREETINGS AND GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER GEORGIA ON MY JOURNEY TO KAZAKHSTAN, TOGETHER WITH PRAYERS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL BLESS ALL IN THE NATION WITH HIS GIFTS OF FRATERNITY, SERENITY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Azerbaijan
HIS EXCELLENCY ILHAM ALIYEV
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
BAKU
I SEND GREETINGS OF GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER AZERBAIJAN ON MY WAY TO KAZAKHSTAN, AND I INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF FRATERNITY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
