Pope Francis sends telegrams to nations on flight to Africa

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis on Wednesday sent telegrams to the leaders of each of the countries he overflew on his Apostolic Journey to three African nations.

The presidents of Italy, Greece, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya all received a telegram from the Holy Father invoking divine blessings of peace and well-being on their people.

The full text of each telegram may be found below:

To Italy:

A SUA ECCELLENZA

ON. SERGIO MATTARELLA

PRESIDENTE  DELLA  REPUBBLICA ITALIANA

NEL MOMENTO IN CUI MI ACCINGO A COMPIERE UN VIAGGIO APOSTOLICO IN KENYA, UGANDA E REPUBBLICA CENTRAFRICANA, MOSSO DAL VIVO DESIDERIO DI INCONTRARE I FRATELLI NELLA FEDE E GLI ABITANTI DI QUELLE CARE NAZIONI, MI E’ GRADITO RIVOLGERE A LEI SIGNOR PRESIDENTE L’ESPRESSIONE DEL MIO DEFERENTE SALUTO CHE ACCOMPAGNO CON FERVIDE PREGHIERE PER IL BENE E LA PROSPERITA’ DELL’INTERO POPOLO ITALIANO

FRANCISCUS  PP

To Greece:

HIS EXCELLENCY PROKOPIS PAVLOPOULOS

PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC

ATHENS

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND TO YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER THE COUNTRY ON MY WAY TO KENYA FOR A PASTORAL VISIT.  I INVOKE DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON GREECE, AND I PRAY THAT ALMIGHTY GOD MAY BLESS YOU ALL WITH PEACE AND WELL-BEING.

FRANCISCUS PP.

To Egypt:

HIS EXCELLENCY ABDEL FATTAH AL SISI

PRESIDENT OF THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

CAIRO

AS I FLY OVER YOUR COUNTRY ON MY WAY TO KENYA FOR A PASTORAL VISIT, I EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT.  INVOKING THE BLESSING OF THE ALMIGHTY UPON THE NATION, I PRAY THAT HE MAY GRANT YOU WELL-BEING AND PEACE.

FRANCISCUS PP.

To Sudan:

HIS EXCELLENCY OMAR AL-BASHIR

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN

KHARTOUM

UPON ENTERING THE AIRSPACE OF THE NATION AS I TRAVEL TO KENYA FOR A PASTORAL VISIT, I EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS.  I PRAY THAT THE ALMIGHTY MAY GRANT THE SUDAN DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

FRANCISCUS PP.  

To Ethiopia:

HIS EXCELLENCY MULATU TESHOME

PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA

ADDIS ABABA

AS I TRAVEL OVER ETHIOPIA ON MY WAY TO KENYA FOR A PASTORAL VISIT, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND TO YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS.  ASSURING YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE PEACE AND WELL-BEING OF THE NATION, I INVOKE DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON ALL OF YOU.

FRANCISCUS PP.

To Kenya:

HIS EXCELLENCY UHURU KENYATTA

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA

NAIROBI

AS I ENTER KENYAN AIRSPACE, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS.  I LOOK FORWARD WITH GREAT JOY TO VISITING THE NATION, AND I INVOKE ABUNDANT DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON YOU ALL.

FRANCISCUS PP.