Departure from Yaoundé and Farewell Ceremony

At 12.00 the Holy Father arrived at Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport, for the farewell ceremony from Cameroon, where he was received by the Prime Minister of Cameroon, His Excellency Mr. Joseph Dion Ngute.

After the national anthems, the Honour to the Flags, the passage of the Guard of Honour and the greeting of the respective delegations, Pope Leo XIV boarded an ITA Airways Airbus A330-900neo and departed at 12.47, bound for Angola.

The aircraft carrying the Holy Father landed at Luanda International Airport at 14.45 local time.

Telegram to the President of the Republic of Cameroon

Immediately after departure, Pope Leo XIV sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic of Cameroon:

Telegram

His Excellency Paul Biya

President of the Republic of Cameroon

Yaoundé

At the conclusion of my visit to Cameroon, I wish to express my profound gratitude to Your Excellency, the local authorities and all Cameroonians for the assistance and the many kind gestures of fraternity extended to me during these past days. As I now begin my Apostolic Journey to the Republic of Angola, I willingly invoke upon your country the divine blessings of peace and wisdom.

Leo PP. XIV

Telegrams to Heads of State during the flight from Yaoundé to Luanda

During the flight to Luanda, as the aircraft carrying the Holy Father flew over Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo, the Pope sent the following telegrams to the respective Heads of State:

Overflight Equatorial Guinea

His Excellency Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo

President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea

Ciudad de la Paz

I send greetings to Your Excellency and all in the Nation as I pass over the Republic of Equatorial Guinea on my Apostolic Journey to the Republic of Angola. In joyful anticipation of my upcoming visit to your country, be assured of my prayers that Almighty God may generously bless all of you with the gifts of solidarity and prosperity.

Leo PP. XIV

Overflight Gabon

His Excellency Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema

President of the Gabonese Republic

Libreville

As my Apostolic Journey to the Republic of Angola takes me over your country, I extend cordial greetings to Your Excellency and the people of the Gabonese Republic. Invoking the blessings of Almighty God upon the Nation, I pray that he may grant all of you wellbeing and fraternal solidarity.

Leo PP. XIV

Overflight Republic of the Congo

His Excellency Denis Sassou N’Guesso

President of the Republic of the Congo

Brazzaville

I extend good wishes to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens as I fly over the Republic of the Congo on my Apostolic Journey to the Republic of Angola. Praying that the Nation will be blessed with fraternity and peace, I willingly invoke abundant divine gifts upon you all.

Leo PP. XIV