Farewell ceremony from the Kingdom of Bahrain at Sakhir Air Base in Awali

Leaving the Papal Residence, the Holy Father Francis transferred by car to Sakhir Air Base in Awali for the farewell ceremony from the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Upon his arrival, the Pope was welcomed by the King of Bahrain, His Majesty Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, three other sons of the King and a grandson, at the entrance of the Royal Hall where a brief meeting took place.

After the Guard of Honour and the greeting of the respective Delegations, the Pope boarded a Gulf Air B787 to return to Italy.

The plane carrying the Holy Father on his return from the Apostolic Journey to the Kingdom of Bahrain took off from Sakhir Air Base in Awali at 1.16pm (11.16am Rome time). It is scheduled to land at Rome/Fiumicino International Airport at 16.35.

Telegram to His Majesty the King of Bahrain

HIS MAJESTY HAMAD BIN ISA AL-KHALIFA
KING OF BAHRAIN
MANAMA

AS I DEPART FOR ROME AT THE CONCLUSION OF MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY, I ONCE AGAIN, EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THE HOSPITALITY EXTENDED TO ME DURING MY STAY IN YOUR COUNTRY, AND I RENEW THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOUR MAJESTY AND ALL IN THE KINGDOM.

FRANCISCUS PP.