Departure from Rome
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
Telegrams to Heads of State during the flight from Rome to Ankara
Official Welcome
Departure from Rome
This morning, Pope Leo XIV began his first international Apostolic Journey, to Türkiye and Lebanon with a pilgrimage to İznik, Türkiye, on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.
Shortly after 7.00, the Holy Father transferred by car to Rome-Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, from where he departed at 7.58 on board an A320neo / ITA Airways aircraft bound for Ankara, Türkiye.
The aircraft landed at Ankara-Esenboğa International Airport at 10.22 (Rome time, 12.22 local time).
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
As he left Italian territory, the Holy Father Leo XIV sent the following telegram to the President of the Italian Republic, the Honourable Sergio Mattarella:
HIS EXCELLENCY
HONOURABLE SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE 00187 ROME
AS I PREPARE TO EMBARK ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO TÜRKIYE AND LEBANON TO MEET THOSE PEOPLES, ESPECIALLY MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE FAITH, ENCOURAGING THEIR PROGRESS TOWARDS PEACE AND BROTHERHOOD, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY WARMEST GREETINGS TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, AND TO THE ITALIAN NATION, ACCOMPANIED BY MY FERVENT WISHES FOR THE SPIRITUAL, CIVIL AND SOCIAL PROGRESS OF BELOVED ITALY.
LEO PP. XIV
Telegrams to Heads of State during the flight from Rome to Ankara
During the flight to Ankara, while passing through the airspace of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Bulgaria, the Holy Father Leo XIV 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 TÜRKIYE, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. I INVOKE ABUNDANT BLESSINGS UPON THE NATION, PRAYING THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL GRANT ALL OF YOU HIS GIFTS OF PEACE AND JOY.
LEO PP. XIV
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 TÜRKIYE. ASSURING YOU OF A REMEMBRANCE IN MY PRAYERS, I WILLINGLY INVOKE UPON THE COUNTRY THE ALMIGHTY’S BLESSINGS OF UNITY, FRATERNITY AND CONCORD.
LEO PP. XIV
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 TÜRKIYE TAKES ME THROUGH YOUR COUNTRY’S AIRSPACE. I WILLINGLY ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE PEACE AND WELL-BEING OF THE NATION.
LEO PP. XIV
Overflight Serbia
HIS EXCELLENCY ALEKSANDAR VUČIĆ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
BELGRADE
AS I FLY OVER SERBIA ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO TÜRKIYE, 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.
LEO PP. XIV
Overflight Bulgaria
HIS EXCELLENCY RUMEN RADEV
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
SOFIA
FLYING OVER BULGARIA EN ROUTE TO TÜRKIYE, I CONVEY THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL BLESS YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS WITH THE GIFTS OF UNITY, JOY AND PEACE.
LEO PP. XIV
Official Welcome
On arrival at Ankara-Esenboğa International Airport, the Pope was welcomed by a Minister and two children in traditional dress who offered him flowers.
After the presentation of the respective delegations and the Guard of Honour, a brief meeting took place between the Pope and the Minister, in the State Guest House.
At the end of the meeting, at 13.00, the Holy Father transferred by car to the Mausoleum of Atatürk.
