Dismissal ceremony from the Democratic Republic of Congo at Kinshasa International Airport

This morning, at N’djili International Airport in Kinshasa, the farewell ceremony from the Democratic Republic of Congo took place.

On his arrival at the airport, the Holy Father Francis was welcomed – at the entrance to the VIP Lounge – by the President of the Republic, H.E. Mr. Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, with whom he had a brief private meeting.

After the greetings of the respective Delegations and the Guard of Honour, the Pope boarded an ITA Airways A359 and at 10.49 a.m. departed for South Sudan.

The plane landed at Juba International Airport at 14.45 local time (13.45 Rome time)

Telegram to the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Immediately after his departure by plane from Kinshasa, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, H.E. Mr Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo:

HIS EXCELLENCY FÉLIX ANTOINE TSHISEKEDI TSHILOMBO
PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
KINSHASA

AS I DEPART FROM THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, I WISH TO EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND TO ALL THE BELOVED CONGOLESE PEOPLE FOR THE WARM WELCOME AND HOSPITALITY EXTENDED TO ME DURING MY VISIT. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS, I INVOKE UPON the NATION THE divine BLESSINGS OF PEACE, JOY AND PROSPERITY.

FRANCISCUS PP.

Telegram to the President of the Republic of Uganda on the flight from Kinshasa to Juba

During the air journey from Kinshasa to Juba, flying over Uganda, Pope Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic:

HIS EXCELLENCY YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
KAMPALA

AS I PASS THROUGH UGANDAN AIRSPACE ON MY ECUMENICAL PILGRIMAGE OF PEACE TO SOUTH SUDAN, I OFFER YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS AND GOOD WISHES FOR THE WELLBEING OF THE NATION.

FRANCISCUS PP.