Departure from Rome
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
Telegrams to Heads of State during the flight from Rome to Ulaanbaatar
Official Welcome at Ulaanbaatar International Airport
Departure from Rome
Today Pope Francis commenced his 43rd International Apostolic Journey, this time in Mongolia.
This afternoon, before leaving Santa Marta bound for the airport, Pope Francis greeted twelve young people of various nationalities, guests in the “Dono di Misericordia” Dormitory, who helped the Dicastery for the Service of Charity in recent days in preparing the dispatch of food to Ukraine.
The Holy Father then transferred to Roma-Fiumicino International Airport where, at 18.41, on board an A330/ITA Airways aircraft, he departed for Ulaanbaatar.
The aircraft carrying the Pope landed at “Chinggis Khaan” International Airport in Ulaanbaatar on Friday 1 September 2023 at 9.51 local time (3.51 in Rome).
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
Upon leaving Italian territory, the Holy Father 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
QUIRINAL PALACE, 00187 ROMA
AS I PREPARE TO LEAVE ITALY TO MAKE THE FIRST VISIT OF A BISHOP OF ROME TO MONGOLIA, IN ORDER TO MEET THAT NOBLE PEOPLE AND THE SMALL BUT VIBRANT CATHOLIC COMMUNITY, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS MY CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOU MR PRESIDENT AND TO ALL ITALIANS, WHICH I ACCOMPANY WITH WISHES OF FRUITFUL COMMITMENT FOR THE COMMON GOOD AND WITH A PRAYER TO GOD THAT HE MAY SUPPORT ALL THOSE WHO WORK WITH INITIATIVES OF SOLIDARITY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Telegrams to Heads of State during the flight from Rome to Ulaanbaatar
During the flight to Ulaanbaatar, while flying over Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and finally China, the Holy Father sent the following telegrams to the respective Heads of State:
Overflight Croatia
HIS EXCELLENCY ZORAN MILANOVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
ZAGREB
AS I FLY THROUGH CROATIAN AIRSPACE ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO MONGOLIA, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. GLADLY RECALLING YOUR RECENT VISIT TO THE VATICAN, I INVOKE ABUNDANT BLESSINGS UPON THE NATION, PRAYING THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL GRANT ALL OF YOU HIS GIFTS OF PEACE AND JOY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Bosnia and Herzegovina
HIS EXCELLENCY ŽELJKO KOMŠIĆ
CHAIRMAN OF THE PRESIDENCY OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
SARAJEVO
I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA AS I FLY OVER YOUR COUNTRY ON MY WAY TO MONGOLIA. ASSURING YOU OF MY REMEMBRANCE IN PRAYER, I WILLINGLY INVOKE UPON THE NATION THE ALMIGHTY’s BLESSINGS OF UNITY, FRATERNITY AND CONCORD.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Serbia
HIS EXCELLENCY ALEKSANDAR VUČIĆ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
BELGRADE
AS I FLY OVER SERBIA ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO MONGOLIA, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, TOGETHER WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE PEACE AND UNITY OF THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Montenegro
HIS EXCELLENCY JAKOV MILATOVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO
PODGORICA
I EXTEND CORDIAL GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF MONTENEGRO AS MY JOURNEY TO MONGOLIA TAKES ME THROUGH YOUR COUNTRY’S AIRSPACE, AND I WILLINGLY ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE PEACE AND WELL-BEING OF THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Bulgaria
HIS EXCELLENCY RUMEN RADEV
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
SOFIA
AS I FLY OVER BULGARIA ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO MONGOLIA, PLEASE ACCEPT THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL BLESS YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS WITH HIS GIFTS OF UNITY, JOY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Turkey
HIS EXCELLENCY RECEP TAYYIP ERDOĞAN
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TÜRKIYE
ANKARA
PASSING OVER YOUR COUNTRY EN ROUTE TO MONGOLIA, I SEND GREETINGS OF GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. ASSURING THE PEOPLE OF TÜRKIYE OF MY PRAYERS, I INVOKE UPON THE NATION THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF FRATERNAL HARMONY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Georgia
HER EXCELLENCY SALOME ZOURABICHVILI
PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA
TBILISI
I EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER GEORGIA ON MY WAY TO MONGOLIA. INVOKING ALMIGHTY GOD’S BLESSINGS UPON THE NATION, I PRAY THAT HE WILL GRANT EACH OF YOU HIS GIFTS OF UNITY AND CONCORD.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Azerbaijan
HIS EXCELLENCY ILHAM ALIYEV
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
BAKU
AS I PASS THROUGH AZERBAIJANI AIRSPACE ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO MONGOLIA, I SEND GREETINGS OF GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. PRAYING THAT THE NATION WILL BE BLESSED WITH FRATERNITY AND PEACE, I WILLINGLY INVOKE DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON YOU ALL.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight Kazakhstan
HIS EXCELLENCY KASSYM-JOMART TOKAYEV
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN
ASTANA
FLYING OVER KAZAKHSTAN EN ROUTE TO MONGOLIA, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, TOGETHER WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS THAT THE ALMIGHTY WILL BESTOW ABUNDANT BLESSINGS UPON THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Overflight China
HIS EXCELLENCY XI JINPING
PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
BEIJING
I SEND GREETINGS OF GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF CHINA AS I PASS THROUGH YOUR COUNTRY’S AIRSPACE EN ROUTE TO MONGOLIA. ASSURING YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE WELLBEING OF THE NATION, I INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF UNITY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Official Welcome at Ulaanbaatar International Airport
Upon arrival at “Chinggis Khaan” International Airport, Ulaanbaatar, the Holy Father Francis was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, Her Excellency Ms. Batmunkh Battsetseg. A young woman in traditional dress offered the Pope a cup with dry yoghurt.
Following the Guard of Honour and the greeting of the delegations, the Pope and the Minister of Foreign Affairs proceeded to the airport’s VIP Lounge for a brief conversation.
After taking leave of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pope Francis transferred by car to the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar, where he was welcomed by the Prefect Apostolic, His Eminence Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, I.M.C., the staff, and the faithful.
