Francis doesn’t neglect the ‘flyover’ states.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a series of telegrams to the head of state of each of the countries he was scheduled to fly over during his flight to Jordan, the first leg of his three-day apostolic pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Here are the telegrams in their original languages:
ITALY
A SUA ECCELLENZA L’ON. GIORGIO NAPOLITANO PRESIDENTE DELLA REPUBBLICA ITALIANA
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE 00187 ROMA
NEL MOMENTO IN CUI MI ACCINGO A COMPIERE IL MIO PELLEGRINAGGIO IN TERRA SANTA, A CINQUANT’ANNI DALLO STORICO VIAGGIO DEL VENERABILE PAOLO SESTO, AL FINE DI PREGARE PER LA GIUSTIZIA E LA PACE E PER INCORAGGIARE IL DIALOGO ECUMENICO E INTERRELIGIOSO, DESIDERO RIVOLGERE A LEI, SIGNOR PRESIDENTE, E AL POPOLO ITALIANO IL MIO CORDIALE SALUTO, CHE ACCOMPAGNO CON SINCERI AUSPICI PER IL BENE SPIRITUALE E SOCIALE DELLA DILETTA ITALIA.
FRANCISCUS PP
GREECE
HIS EXCELLENCY KAROLOS PAPOULIAS, PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC
ATHENS
I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND TO YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER YOUR COUNTRY AT THE BEGINNING OF MY PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND. I PRAY TO ALMIGHTY GOD, THAT HE MAY GUIDE YOUR EFFORTS IN FAVOUR OF AN EVER MORE JUST AND PEACEFUL SOCIETY. UPON THE GREEK PEOPLE, I INVOKE THE LORD’S ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
FRANCIS PP
CYPRUS
HIS EXCELLENCY NICOS ANASTASIADES, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS
NICOSIA
I EXTEND WARM GREETINGS TO YOU AND THE CITIZENS OF CYPRUS AS I JOURNEY OVER YOUR COUNTRY ON MY PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND. I INVOKE UPON THE ENTIRE NATION THE LORD’S BLESSINGS OF JOY AND PEACE.
FRANCIS PP
ISRAEL
HIS EXCELLENCY SHIMON PERES, PRESIDENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL
TEL AVIV
AS I BEGIN MY PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND, I SEND CORDIAL AND GOOD WISHES TO YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU AND TO VISITING THE HOLY LAND. I WILLINGLY INVOKE UPON YOU AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS ALMIGHTY GOD’S ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP
