Departure from Istanbul

Telegram to the President of the Republic of Türkiye

Telegram to the President of Cyprus during the flight from Rome to Beirut

Welcome Ceremony at Beirut International Airport

Departure from Istanbul

At 13.45 (local time) today, the Holy Father left the Ecumenical Patriarchate and transferred by car to Istanbul-Atatürk Airport where the farewell ceremony from Türkiye was held.

On arrival at the airport, the Pope was welcomed by a Minister, with whom he proceeded to the Hall of Honour for a brief private meeting.

After the greeting of the respective delegations and the Guard of Honour, the Holy Father boarded an A320neo ITA Airways aircraft and departed at 15.01, bound for Beirut, Lebanon. The aircraft landed at 15.34 local time.

Telegram to the President of the Republic of Türkiye

Immediately after the departure from Istanbul, the Holy Father Leo XIV sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic of Türkiye:

Telegram

HIS EXCELLENCY RECEP TAYYIP ERDOĞAN
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TÜRKIYE
ANKARA

AS I LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY TO BEGIN MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO LEBANON, I RENEW MY WARMEST GREETINGS OF GOOD WISHES AND ONCE AGAIN EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE AUTHORITIES AND THE PEOPLE OF TÜRKIYE FOR THE GRACIOUS WELCOME AND GENEROUS HOSPITALITY AFFORDED ME DURING THESE PAST DAYS. ASSURING ALL OF YOU OF A CONTINUED REMEMBRANCE IN MY PRAYERS, I INVOKE UPON THE NATION THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF FRATERNAL HARMONY AND PEACE.

LEO PP. XIV

Telegram to the President of Cyprus during the flight from Rome to Beirut

During the flight to Beirut, while passing over Cyprus, the Holy Father Leo XIV sent the following telegram to the President:

Overflight Cyprus

HIS EXCELLENCY NIKOS CHRISTODOULIDES
PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS
NICOSIA

I EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER CYPRUS ON MY WAY TO LEBANON. INVOKING ALMIGHTY GOD’S BLESSINGS UPON THE COUNTRY, I PRAY THAT HE WILL GRANT EACH OF YOU THE GIFTS OF UNITY AND CONCORD.

LEO PP. XIV

Welcome Ceremony at Beirut International Airport

On arrival at Beirut International Airport, the Pope was received by the President of the Lebanese Republic, the President of the National Assembly, and the Prime Minister, with their respective wives, and the Patriarch. Two children in traditional dress offered flowers, bread and water.

After the national anthems, the flag salute, the Guard of Honour, twenty-one cannon shots, the presentation of the respective delegations and the flypast, the Holy Father was accompanied by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly and the Prime Minister, with their respective spouses, to the Presidential Lounge for a brief private meeting.