Pope Francis sends telegrams to Heads of State as he flies from Manila to Rome

Pope Francis sends telegrams to Heads of State as he flies from Manila to Rome

(Vatican Radio) As is customary on a papal journey, Pope Francis has sent telegrams to the Head of State of every country his plane flies over during his flight from Manila to Rome.  For the second time in history, this includes the People’s Republic of China.  He assures the Chinese President, Xi Jinping of his prayers for the people of China, and invoked blessings of “harmony and prosperity.”

The Holy Father's telegram to Italy was addressed to Senator Pietro Grasso, who became Acting President of Italy on 14 January 2015, upon the resignation of President Giorgio Napolitano.

The full text of all the telegrams are below, in their original languages

Philippines – 19 January 2015

HIS EXCELLENCY BENIGNO AQUINO

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

MANILA

AS I DEPART FROM THE PHILIPPINES, 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 PROSPERITY.

                                                               FRANCISCUS PP

China– 19 January 2015

HIS EXCELLENCY XI JINPING

PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

BEIJING

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER THE COUNTRY ON MY WAY FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE VATICAN.  I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF CHINA, INVOKING UPON YOU ABUNDANT BLESSINGS OF HARMONY AND PROSPERITY.

                                                               FRANCISCUS PP

Mongolia – 19 January 2015

HIS EXCELLENCY TSAKHIAGIIN ELBEGDORJ

PRESIDENT OF MONGOLIA

ULAANBAATAR

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER THE COUNTRY ON MY WAY FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE VATICAN.  I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF MONGOLIA, INVOKING UPON YOU ABUNDANT BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

                                                               FRANCISCUS PP

Russia – 19 January 2015

HIS EXCELLENCY VLADIMIR VLADIMIROVICH PUTIN

PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

MOSCOW

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER THE COUNTRY ON MY WAY FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE VATICAN.  I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, INVOKING UPON YOU GOD’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

                                                                                                                 FRANCISCUS PP

Belarus – 19 January 2015

HIS EXCELLENCY ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

MINSK

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER THE COUNTRY ON MY WAY FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE VATICAN.  I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF BELARUS, INVOKING UPON YOU GOD’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

                                                                                                              FRANCISCUS PP

Poland – 19 January 2015

HIS EXCELLENCY BRONISLAW KOMOROWSKI

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND

WARSAW

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER THE COUNTRY ON MY WAY FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE VATICAN.  I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOU AND THE BELOVED PEOPLE OF POLAND, AND I INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU THE LORD’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE, JOY AND PROSPERITY.

                                                                                                                               FRANCISCUS PP

Czech Republic – 19 January 2015

HIS EXCELLENCY MILOŠ ZEMAN

PRESIDENT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

PRAGUE

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER THE COUNTRY ON MY WAY FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE VATICAN.  I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOU AND THE PEOPLE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC, INVOKING UPON ALL OF YOU GOD’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

                                                                                                                              FRANCISCUS PP

Slovakia – 19 January 2015

HIS EXCELLENCY ANDREJ KISKA

PRESIDENT OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC

BRATISLAVA

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER THE COUNTRY ON MY WAY FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE VATICAN.  I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOU AND THE PEOPLE OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC, INVOKING UPON ALL OF YOU GOD’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

                                                                                                                FRANCISCUS PP

Austria – 19 January 2015

HIS EXCELLENCY HEINZ FISCHER

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA

VIENNA

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER THE COUNTRY ON MY WAY FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE VATICAN.  I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF AUSTRIA, INVOKING UPON YOU ABUNDANT DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

                                                                              FRANCISCUS PP

Slovenia – 19 January 2015

HIS EXCELLENCY BORUT PAHOR

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

LJUBLJANA

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER THE COUNTRY ON MY WAY FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE VATICAN.  I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF SLOVENIA, INVOKING UPON YOU GOD’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

                                                                              FRANCISCUS PP

Arrival in ITALY – 19 January 2015

A SUA ECCELLENZA

SEN. PIETRO GRASSO

PRESIDENTE  SUPPLENTE DELLA  REPUBBLICA ITALIANA

PALAZZO  DEL  QUIRINALE                                         00187   ROMA

AL RIENTRO DAL VIAGGIO APOSTOLICO IN SRI LANKA E FILIPPINE, DOVE HO POTUTO INCONTRARE NUMEROSI FEDELI E RAPPRESENTANTI DI QUELLE CARE POPOLAZIONI AMMIRANDONE IL FERVORE SPIRITUALE E CIVILE, ESPRIMO A LEI, SIGNOR PRESIDENTE, IL MIO CORDIALE SALUTO ED ASSICURO UN ORANTE RICORDO PER IL BENE E LA PROSPERITA’ DELL’INTERA NAZIONE ITALIANA, CHE DI CUORE BENEDICO

                                                                                                                                              FRANCISCUS PP.

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