Farewell Ceremony from the Democratic Republic of the Congo at Kinshasa International Airport

Telegram to the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Farewell Ceremony from the Democratic Republic of the Congo at Kinshasa International Airport

This morning, at N’djili International Airport in Kinshasa, the farewell ceremony from the Democratic Republic of the Congo took place.

Upon arrival at the airport, the Holy Father Francis was received at the entrance to the VIP Lounge by the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, with whom he had a brief meeting.

After the greeting of the respective delegations and the Guard of Honour, the Pope boarded an ITA Airways A359 and departed for South Sudan at 10.49.

The aircraft carrying the Holy Father is expected to arrive at Juba International Airport at 15.00 local time (14.00 in Rome).

Telegram to the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Immediately after departure from Kinshasa, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic of the Congo, His Excellency Mr. Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo:

HIS EXCELLENCY FÉLIX ANTOINE TSHISEKEDI TSHILOMBO
PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO 
KINSHASA

AS I DEPART FROM THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, I WISH TO EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND TO ALL THE BELOVED CONGOLESE PEOPLE FOR THE WARM WELCOME AND HOSPITALITY EXTENDED TO ME DURING MY VISIT. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS, I INVOKE UPON the NATION THE divine BLESSINGS OF PEACE, JOY AND PROSPERITY.

FRANCISCUS PP.