Departure from Rome
The 38th International Apostolic Journey of Pope Francis who is traveling to Kazakhstan for the “VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions” began this morning.
After leaving Casa Santa Marta, the Holy Father transferred by car to Rome-Fiumicino International Airport from where, at 7.15 am – on board an A330/ITA Airways – he left for Nur-Sultan.
He is scheduled to arrive at Nur-Sultan Airport at 5.45 p.m. (1.45 p.m. Rome time).
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
On leaving Italian territory, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Italian Republic, Hon. Sergio Mattarella:
TO HIS EXCELLENCY
ON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALACE OF THE QUIRINAL
AS I AM ABOUT TO LEAVE THE SOIL OF ITALY TO
MAKE AN APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO KAZAKHSTAN TO TAKE PART IN THE CONGRESS OF LEADERS OF WORLD RELIGIONS AND MEET THE
THE CATHOLIC POPULATION AND COMMUNITY, I WISH TO EXTEND TO YOU, MR PRESIDENT, AND TO ALL ITALIANS MY CORDIAL GREETINGS, WHICH I ACCOMPANY WITH WISHES FOR SERENITY AND CONCORD, UNITED WITH A PRAYER TO GOD FOR THE GOOD AND PROGRESS OF THE ENTIRE NATION
FRANCISCUS PP.
As is his tradition, he also sent telegrams while flying over Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia and finally Azerbaijan, the Holy Father wrote to the respective Heads of State
PASSING THROUGH CROATIAN AIRSPACE ON MY WAY TO KAZAKHSTAN, I SEND GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. INVOKING THE BLESSINGS OF ALMIGHTY GOD UPON THE NATION, I PRAY THAT HE MAY GRANT ALL OF YOU THE GIFTS OF UNITY AND PEACE.
FLYING OVER BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA EN ROUTE TO KAZAKHSTAN, I SEND GREETINGS AND GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, TOGETHER WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR ALL IN THE NATION.
AS I FLY OVER SERBIA ON MY JOURNEY TO KAZAKHSTAN, I SEND GREETINGS OF GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, TOGETHER WITH MY PRAYERS THAT THE ALMIGHTY WILL BESTOW UPON ALL OF YOU HIS
ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
AS I FLY OVER MONTENEGRO ON MY JOURNEY TO KAZAKHSTAN, I SEND GREETINGS OF GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, TOGETHER WITH MY PRAYERS THAT THE ALMIGHTY WILL BESTOW UPON ALL OF YOU HIS ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
I SEND GREETINGS AND GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER BULGARIA ON MY JOURNEY TO KAZAKHSTAN, TOGETHER WITH PRAYERS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL BLESS ALL IN THE NATION WITH HIS GIFTS OF JOY AND PEACE.
FLYING OVER TÜRKIYE ON MY WAY TO KAZAKHSTAN, I SEND GREETINGS AND GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, TOGETHER WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF ALL IN THE NATION.
I SEND GREETINGS AND GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER GEORGIA ON MY JOURNEY TO KAZAKHSTAN, TOGETHER WITH PRAYERS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL BLESS ALL IN THE NATION WITH HIS GIFTS OF FRATERNITY, SERENITY AND PEACE.
I SEND GREETINGS OF GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER AZERBAIJAN ON MY WAY TO KAZAKHSTAN, AND I INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF FRATERNITY AND PEACE.
