Departure from Rome
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
Telegrams to Heads of State during the flight from Rome to Luxembourg
Departure from Rome
This morning, Pope Francis began his 46th international Apostolic Journey, this time to Luxembourg and Belgium.
Shortly after 7.00, a group of around ten homeless people, men and women, who shelter at night beneath the colonnade in Saint Peter’s Square or in the streets around it, accompanied by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Almoner of His Holiness, greeted Pope Francis at Santa Marta before his departure.
The Holy Father then transferred by car to Leonardo da Vinci airport in Rome-Fiumicino, from where he departed at 8.29 on board an ITA Airways A321 bound for Luxembourg.
The aircraft carrying the Holy Father landed at Luxembourg-Findel International Airport at 9.56.
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
QUIRINAL PALACE 00187 ROME
AS I AM ABOUT TO EMBARK ON AN APOSTOLIC JOURNEY IN LUXEMBOURG AND BELGIUM, MOVED BY THE KEEN DESIRE TO MEET BROTHERS IN FAITH AND THE INHABITANTS OF THOSE DEAR NATIONS BEARING A MESSAGE OF PEACE AND HOPE, I AM PLEASED TO ADDRESS TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, MY RESPECTFUL GREETING, WHICH I ACCOMPANY WITH FERVENT PRAYERS FOR THE GOOD AND PROSPERITY OF THE ENTIRE ITALIAN PEOPLE.
FRANCISCUS
Telegrams to Heads of State during the flight from Rome to Luxembourg
During the flight to Luxembourg, as the aircraft passed through Austrian, German and Belgian airspace, the Holy Father sent the following telegrams to the respective Heads of State:
Overflight Austria
HIS EXCELLENCY ALEXANDER VAN DER BELLEN
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA
VIENNA
FLYING OVER AUSTRIA EN ROUTE TO LUXEMBOURG, I SEND GREETINGS OF GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, TOGETHER WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL BESTOW UPON THE PEOPLE OF AUSTRIA HIS GIFTS OF FRATERNAL SOLIDARITY AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS
Overflight Germany
HIS EXCELLENCY FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER
PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
BERLIN
I SEND GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF GERMANY AS I FLY OVER YOUR COUNTRY ON MY WAY TO LUXEMBOURG. ASSURING YOU ALL OF A REMEMBRANCE IN MY PRAYERS, I WILLINGLY INVOKE UPON THE NATION ALMIGHTY GOD’S BLESSINGS OF WISDOM, UNITY AND CONCORD.
FRANCISCUS
Overflight Belgium
HIS MAJESTY KING PHILIPPE
KING OF THE BELGIANS
BRUSSELS
AS I TRAVEL THROUGH YOUR AIRSPACE ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO LUXEMBOURG, AND IN ANTICIPATION OF MY VISIT TO YOUR OWN LAND, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR MAJESTY, THE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY AND THE PEOPLE OF BELGIUM. UPON ALL OF YOU, I INVOKE AN ABUNDANCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD’S BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS
