Sunday, November 29, 2015

From Uganda to the Central African Republic

This morning, the Holy Father left the Apostolic Nunciature in Kampala and traveled by car to the international airport in Entebbe, where shortly after 9:00am local time, the departure ceremony was held.

Welcomed by the President of the Republic, Mister Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, following the presentation of military honours, the playing of the national anthems and greetings shared between the members of the respective delegations, at 9:30am, the Holy Father's plane (an Alitalia A330) departed Entebbe, bound for Bangui, in the Central African Republic.


At the moment of leaving the Ugandan territory and passing through the airspace above the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Holy Father, Pope Francis sent the following messages respectively to the Heads of State of those countries.

Uganda

HIS EXCELLENCY YOWERI MUSEVENI
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
KAMPALA

I RENEW MY GRATITUDE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND ALL THE UGANDAN PEOPLE FOR YOUR WARM HOSPITALITY DURING MY STAY. AS I DEPART FOR MY PASTORAL VISIT TO THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, I ASSURE YOU OF MY SPIRITUAL CLOSENESS AND I INVOKE UPON UGANDA THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE, JOY AND PROSPERITY.

Francis, PP

Democratic Republic of Congo

HIS EXCELLENCY JOSEPH KABILA
PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
KINSHASA

AS I ENTER THE AIRSPACE OF THE NATION ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND TO YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. I INVOKE THE BLESSING OF ALMIGHTY GOD UPON THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, AND I PRAY THAT HE MAY GRANT YOU ALL THE GIFTS OF PEACE AND WELL-BEING.

Francis, PP

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