Pope Benedict XVI sends telegrams from plane

Pope Benedict sent telegrams to the heads of state of the countries he was scheduled to fly over as he made his way to Mexico, the first leg of his Latin American trip.

These countries are Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Greenland (Denmark), Canada, and the United States.

In his telegrams, he assures the leaders of his prayers and best wishes for the people of their nations.

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

Italy

A SUA ECCELLENZA
ON. GIORGIO NAPOLITANO
PRESIDENTE DELLA REPUBBLICA ITALIANA
PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE 00187 ROMA

NEL MOMENTO IN CUI LASCIO ROMA PER RECARMI IN MESSICO E CUBA PER SOSTENERE LA MISSIONE DELLA CHIESA LOCALE E PORTARE UN MESSAGGIO DI SPERANZA, MI E’ CARO RIVOLGERE A LEI, SIGNOR PRESIDENTE, IL MIO DEFERENTE SALUTO, CHE ACCOMPAGNO CON FERVIDI AUSPICI PER IL BENESSERE SPIRITUALE, CIVILE E SOCIALE DEL POPOLO ITALIANO, CUI INVIO VOLENTIERI LA BENEDIZIONE APOSTOLICA
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

France

Son Excellence Monsieur Nicolas Sarkozy
Président de la République Française
PARIS

Me rendant en Voyage apostolique au Mexique et à Cuba, le survol de LA FRANCE me donne l’heureuse occasion de saluer Votre Excellence et l’ensemble de vos compatriotes. Que Dieu bénisse la France et donne à tous ses habitants prospérité et bonheur !

Benedictus Pp. XVI


United Kindgom

HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
LONDON
AS MY JOURNEY TO MEXICO AND CUBA TAKES ME OVER THE UNITED KINGDOM I AVAIL MYSELF OF THE OCCASION TO SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR MAJESTY AND TO ASSURE YOU AND ALL THE BRITISH PEOPLE OF A SPECIAL REMEMBRANCE IN MY PRAYERS.
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI


Ireland

HIS EXCELLENCY MICHAEL HIGGINS
PRESIDENT OF IRELAND
DUBLIN
AS I PASS OVER IRELAND ON MY WAY TO MEXICO AND CUBA I GREET YOUR EXCELLENCY AND ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND UPON WHOM I INVOKE GOD’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

Greenland (Denmark)

HER MAJESTY MARGRETHE II
QUEEN OF DENMARK
AMALIENBORG PALACE
COPENHAGEN

AS MY JOURNEY TO MEXICO AND CUBA TAKES ME OVER GREENLAND, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR MAJESTY AND I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS AND GOOD WISHES FOR THE PEOPLES OF YOUR REALM.
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI


Canada

HIS EXCELLENCY
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE DAVID JOHNSTON
GOVERNOR GENERAL
OTTAWA

AS I TRAVEL OVER CANADA TO MEXICO AND CUBA, I AM PLEASED TO GREET YOUR EXCELLENCY AND TO ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS AND GOOD WISHES FOR YOU AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS.


BENEDICTUS PP. XVI


United States

THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
WASHINGTON
AS I PASS OVER THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON MY JOURNEY TO MEXICO AND CUBA I OFFER YOU GREETINGS AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL GRANT PROSPERITY AND EVERY BLESSING TO ALL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI