On his 46th international apostolic journey, Pope Francis landed at Luxembourg-Findel International Airport at 10:00 a.m., accompanied by about 60 journalists. During the flight, the Pope personally greeted the reporters, correspondents, cameramen, and photographers accompanying him, thanking them for their company and service.
Meeting with Journalists on the Flight
On board the ITA Airways plane, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to the journalists, acknowledging their role in covering his trip. Although he was unable to make the traditional round of greetings on the plane due to his busy schedule, Francis joked: “I’m sorry, I don’t feel up to making the ‘trip’… Thank you.”
A Special Gift from Senegal
Among the gifts received by the Pope, a Senegalese cloth bag stood out, made by children from the Buen Samaritano Foundation, and delivered by the Spanish journalist Eva Fernández. This bag contained letters from migrants in the Canary Islands, who shared their dramatic migration stories. The migrants, through these letters, expressed their gratitude and hope, knowing that their stories reached the hands of the Pontiff.
Migration Stories
The letters included moving stories such as that of Michel, a Senegalese minor who traveled for seven days without a spare set of clothes, and that of Ousseynou, who saw several people die of thirst during his journey Ousmane, another Senegalese, shared his experiences in the form of poetry, while Bright, a Nigerian, recounted his odyssey from political persecution to his arrival in Europe. Abibo Danfá, from Guinea-Bissau, one of the few Christians in the Canary Islands, described his difficult journey and the reasons that led him to seek a new life in Europe.
Pope’s Commitment to Migrants
Pope Francis has shown a constant interest in the situation of migrants, expressing his desire to visit the Canary Islands, a critical point of arrival for many of them. The Pope’s attention to these stories highlights his commitment to the most vulnerable and his desire to bring comfort and hope to those who suffer.
On this trip to Luxembourg and Belgium, Pope Francis continues his mission to reach out to new realities and faces, bringing a message of hope and gratitude. The stories of migrants reflect both the challenges and the resilience of those seeking a new beginning, and the Pope’s attention to their voices underlines the importance of solidarity and mutual support in times of crisis.
