Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Japan to Rome

This morning, at the Tokyo-Haneda Airport, there was a ceremony held to mark the Holy Father's departure from Japan.  Leaving the VIP Lounge, the Pope greeted the Bishops of Japan and the members of the various delegations.  Then, aboard the All Nippon Airways B787-9 - he departed and flew back to Italy.

The aircraft carrying the Holy Father on his return from the Apostolic journey to Thailand and Japan left the Tokyo-Haneda airport at 11:43am local time (11:43pm EST Monday) and landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport at 4:25pm local time (10:25am EST).


Immediately after his departure from Tokyo, the Holy Father, Pope Francis sent the following telegram to the Emperor of Japan, His Imperial Majesty, Naruhito.

His Imperial Majesty, Naruhito
Emperor of Japan
Tokyo

As I depart from Japan, I renew my deep appreciation to Your Majesty, the members of the Imperial Family and all the people of Japan, for your warm welcome and generous hospitality.  I assure you of my prayers and invoke upon all of you abundant divine blessings.

Francis

During the flight from Tokyo to Rome, while passing over Russia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and arriving finally in Italy, the Pope sent the following telegrams to the respective Heads of State.

While flying over Russia

His Excellency, Vladimir Putin
President of the Russian Federation
Moscow

I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency as I fly over Russia on my return journey to Rome from Thailand and Japan.  I assure you of my prayers for you and all the people of the Russian Federation, and I invoke upon you God's blessings of peace and joy.

Francis

While flying over Finland

His Excellency, Sauli Ninistö
President of the Republic of Finland
Helsinki

En route to Rome at the conclusion of my Apostolic visit to Thailand and Japan, I send my cordial best wishes to you and to the people of Finland and I pray for the blessings of peace and joy upon you all.

Francis

While flying over Estonia

Her Excellency, Kersti Kaljulaid
President of the Republic of Estonia
Tallinn

I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency as I fly over Estonia on my return journey to Rome from Thailand and Japan.  Assuring you of my prayers for you ad the people of the nation, I invoke upon all abundant divine blessings of peace and joy.

Francis

While flying over Latvia

His Excellency, Egils Levitis
President of the Republic of Latvia
Riga

Returning to Rome at the conclusion of my Apostolic visit to Thailand and Japan, I offer the assurance of my prayers for Your Excellency and all the beloved people of Latvia, upon whom I gladly invoke God's abundant blessings.

Francis

While flying over Lithuania

His Excellency, Gitanas Nauséda
President of the Republic of Lithuania
Vilnius

As I fly over Lithuania on my return journey to Rome from Thailand and Japan, I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens.  Invoking divine blessings upon the nation, I pray that Almighty God may bless you all with peace and prosperity.

Francis

While flying over Poland

His Excellency, Andrzej Duda
President of the Republic of Poland
Warsaw

As I fly over Poland on my return journey to Rome from Thailand and Japan, I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens.  I assure you of my prayers for the country and its people, and I invoke upon all of you Almighty God's blessings of peace and prosperity.

Francis

While flying over the Czech Republic

His Excellency, Miloš Zeman
President of the Czech Republic
Prague

I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency as I fly over the Czech Republic on my return journey to Rome from Thailand and Japan.  Assuring you of my prayers for you and the people of the nation, I invoke upon all abundant divine blessings of peace and prosperity.

Frnacis

While flying over Austria

 His Excellency, Alexander Van der Bellen
President of the Republic of Austria
Vienna

As I fly over Austria on my return journey to Rome from Thailand and Japan, I send cordal greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens.  Invoking divine blessings upon the nation, I pray that Almighty God may bless you all with peace and joy.

Francis

While flying over Slovenia

His Excellency, Borut Pahor
President of the Republic of Slovenia
Ljubljana

I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency as I fly over Slovenia on my return journey to Rome from Thailand and Japan.  I assure you of my prayers for you and your fellow citizens, and I invoke upon you abundant divine blessings of peace and joy.

Francis

While flying over Croatia

Her Excellency, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović
President of the Republic of Croatia
Zagreb

As I fly over Croatia on my return journey to Rome from Thailand and Japan, I send warm greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens.  Praying that Almighty God may bless you and the people of Croatia with peace and joy, I invoke divine blessings upon the nation.

Francis

Arriving in Italian airspace

To His Excellency
The Honourable Sergio Mattarella
President of the Italian Republic
Palazzo del Quirinale - Rome

At the conclusion of my pastoral visit to Thailand and Japan, which afforded me the occasion to encourage the commitment of believers in the building of welcoming and peaceful countries, I am pleased to offer you, Mister President, and to all the Italian people, my cordial greetings which are accompanied by fervent wishes for the spiritual, civil and social progress of our beloved nation.

Francis

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