Pope sends telegrams on return flight from Mexico
(Vatican Radio) As per tradition, Pope Francis has sent telegrams to the heads of state of the countries his plane flew over on Thursday, as he returned to Rome from his Apostolic Journey to Mexico.
He overflew Mexico, the United States, Canada, Iceland, Ireland, France, and Italy, sending each head of state cordial greetings and invoking upon them ‘abundant divine blessings’.
The full text of the telegrams is below:
MEXICO
HIS EXCELLENCY ENRIQUE PENA NIETO
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES
MEXICO CITY
AS I DEPART FROM MEXICO, I EXTEND TO YOU, THE GOVERNMENT AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE NATION MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR YOUR WARM WELCOME AND EVERY KINDNESS SHOWN TO ME DURING MY VISIT. I RENEW TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE ENTIRE COUNTRY THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR PEACE AND UNITY.
FRANCIS PP
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
THE HONORABLE BARACK H. OBAMA
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
WASHINGTON
I EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOU AS I FLY OVER THE COUNTRY ON MY WAY HOME FROM MEXICO. RENEWING THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, I INVOKE UPON YOU ABUNDANT DIVINE BLESSINGS.
FRANCIS PP
CANADA
HIS EXCELLENCY DAVID JOHNSTON
GOVERNOR GENERAL OF CANADA
OTTAWA
I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER CANADA ON MY WAY FROM MEXICO TO THE VATICAN. I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE NATION, INVOKING UPON YOU ABUNDANT DIVINE BLESSINGS.
FRANCIS PP
ICELAND
HIS EXCELLENCY OLAFUR RAGNAR GRIMSSON
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ICELAND
REYKJAVIK
I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER ICELAND ON MY WAY FROM MEXICO TO THE VATICAN. I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE NATION, INVOKING UPON YOU ABUNDANT DIVINE BLESSINGS.
FRANCIS PP
IRELAND
HIS EXCELLENCY MICHAEL D. HIGGINS
PRESIDENT OF IRELAND
DUBLIN
I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER IRELAND ON MY WAY FROM MEXICO TO THE VATICAN. I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR ALL THE BELOVED PEOPLE OF IRELAND, INVOKING UPON YOU ABUNDANT DIVINE BLESSINGS.
FRANCIS PP
FRANCE
HIS EXCELLENCY FRANCOIS HOLLANDE
PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
PARIS
I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER FRANCE ON MY WAY FROM MEXICO TO THE VATICAN. I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC, AND I INVOKE UPON YOU ABUNDANT DIVINE BLESSINGS.
FRANCIS PP
ITALY
A SUA ECCELLENZA
ON. SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENTE DELLA REPUBBLICA ITALIANA
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE 00187 ROMA
AL RIENTRO DAL VIAGGIO APOSTOLICO IN MESSICO, DOVE HO POTUTO INCONTRARE NUMEROSI FEDELI E RAPPRESENTANTI DI QUELLE CARE POPOLAZIONI AMMIRANDONE LA FEDE E IL DESIDERIO DI CRESCITA SPIRITUALE E SOCIALE, ESPRIMO A LEI, SIGNOR PRESIDENTE, IL MIO CORDIALE SALUTO ED ASSICURO UNA SPECIALE PREGHIERA PER IL BENE, LA SERENITA’ E LA PROSPERITA’ DELLA DILETTA NAZIONE ITALIANA, ALLA QUALE INVIO LA MIA AFFETTUOSA BENEDIZIONE
FRANCISCUS PP.