Departure for Kenya

Pope Francis' 11th international Apostolic Voyage began this morning.  This time, he will visit Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic.

The aircraft carrying the Holy Father (an Alitalia A330) took off from Rome's Fumicino International Airport at 8:00am today.

The flight is expected to arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi (Kenya) at 5:00pm local time (9:00am EST), following a flight of approximately 7 hours.

At the moment when he left Italian airspace en route for Kenya, the Holy Father, Pope Francis sent the following message to the President of the Republic of Italy:

Telegram sent by the Holy Father, Pope Francis

to the President of the Republic of Italy

To His Excellency
The Honourable Sergio Mattarella
President of the Republic of Italy
Palazzo del Quirinale
00187 Rome

At the moment when I am preparing for an Apostolic Voyage to Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic, moved by a fervent desire to meet my brothers in faith and the people of those beloved nations, I am grateful to send to you, Mister President, the expressions of my respectful greetings along with my fervent prayers for the wellbeing and the prosperity of the entire population of Italy.

Francis