Pope Francis departs on an Apostolic visit to Colombia

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has departed on an Apostolic visit to Colombia. The Holy Father took off from Rome’s Fiumicino airport shortly after 11 am Rome time this morning.

He is expected to land in Bogota at 23.30 Rome time tonight.

During his visit he will also visit the cities of Villavicencio, Medellín and Cartagena before returning to Rome on the morning of 11th September.

As has become tradition, Pope Francis on Tuesday afternoon visited the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to pray before the icon of the Virgin Mary, Salus Populi Romani.

In a tweet before his departure the Pope said, “Dear Friends, please pray for me and all of Colombia, where I will be travelling for a journey dedicated to reconciliation and peace.”