Meeting with the President of the French Republic in the Airport Conference Hall
Farewell Ceremony from Ajaccio at “Napoléon Bonaparte” International Airport, Ajaccio
Telegram to the President of the French Republic
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
Meeting with the President of the French Republic in the Airport Conference Hall
At 17.50, the Holy Father Francis arrived at “Napoléon Bonaparte” International Airport in Ajaccio, where, in the Hall de Conférences, he met with the President of the French Republic, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Macron, in the presence of Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the Substitute for General Affairs, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the Apostolic Nuncio and the counsellors of the Apostolic Nunciature.
Farewell Ceremony from Ajaccio at “Napoléon Bonaparte” International Airport, Ajaccio
At 18.50, at “Napoléon Bonaparte” International Airport, the farewell ceremony from Ajaccio took place.
After greeting the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Macron, the local entourage and the French delegation, the Holy Father Francis boarded an Air A230 Neo aircraft, and departed at 19.13 for the return journey to Italy.
The aircraft carrying the Holy Father on the return trip from his Apostolic Journey to Ajaccio landed at Leonardo da Vinci Rome-Fiumicino International Airport at 19.56.
Telegram to the President of the French Republic
Immediately after departure, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the French Republic, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Macron:
HIS EXCELLENCY
MR. EMMANUEL MACRON
PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
PARIS
AS I LEAVE AJACCIO AND FRANCE, DESTINED FOR ROME, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY THANKS AND GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND TO THE PEOPLE OF FRANCE. IN REMEMBERING YOU, I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS. MAY THE LORD GRANT YOUR COUNTRY PROSPERITY, UNITY AND HARMONY. I GLADLY INVOKE GOD'S BLESSINGS ON THE FRENCH NATION.
FRANCIS
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
As he returned to Italy following his Apostolic Journey to Ajaccio, 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
HIS EXCELLENCY
HON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
QUIRINAL PALACE, 00187 ROME
AS I EMBARK ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO AJACCIO FOR THE CONGRESS ON POPULAR PIETY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO RENEW MY INVITATION TO CONSIDER THE RELIGIOUS-ARTISTIC-CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE MANY CIVILIZATIONS BORDERING THE MARE NOSTRUM, WHICH, DESPITE HISTORICAL EVENTS, HAVE CAREFULLY CONSERVED THE SPIRITUAL LEGACY HANDED DOWN BY THEIR FATHERS IN FAITH. I HOPE THAT THIS SINGULAR EVENT MAY INSPIRE GREATER INTEREST IN REDISCOVERING THE DESIRE TO DRAW ON THE SOUND VALUES THAT HAVE FORGED MEN AND WOMEN, SO THAT IN THE FRUITFUL DIALOGUE BETWEEN RELIGIONS, POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE WORLD OF KNOWLEDGE, RESPECT FOR ONE'S ROOTS, THE FREEDOM TO BEAR WITNESS TO ONE'S BELIEFS AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FUTURE MAY BE PROMOTED. I ADDRESS A CORDIAL GREETING THAT I ACCOMPANY WITH FERVENT GOOD WISHES FOR BELOVED ITALY TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, AND TO THE ITALIAN PEOPLE.
FRANCIS
