Having taken his leave of Patriarch Kirill following their meeting at the international airport in La Habana (Cuba), the Pope - accompanied by the Cuban President, Raúl Castro and once again greeting the authorities who had been present at the moment of his arrival - boarded the plane and continued his voyage to Mexico. The Alitalia A330 departed the José Martí international airport at 5:30pm, destined for Mexico City.
At the moment that the aircraft left Cuban airspace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis sent a message telegraphically to the President of the State Council and of the Council of Ministries of the Republic of Cuba, His Excellency, Raúl Castro Ruz. His Holiness had already presented the text of this letter in written form as a letter of gratitude (in Spanish) to President Castro at the moment of his departure.
Mister President,
On my way to Mexico for my pastoral journey as a missionary of mercy and peace, I thank you for your generous hospitality during my brief stopover in Cuba, which has given me the opportunity to recall the affectionate and warm welcome the Cuban people extended to me last September. Above all, I would like to thank you, Mister President, and your government for the willingness to make possible my meeting with His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia. It has been an important meeting, from which I hope much good will come. We cannot cease to strive along the path of dialogue, encounter and understanding if we wish to achieve peace, reconciliation and the coexistence of all people of goodwill. I assure you, and the beloved Cuban nation which I carry in my heart, of my prayers, and please also pray for me.
Fraternally,
Francis
During the flight from Cuba to Mexico, the Holy Father once again wished to meet with journalists who were on board, to share with them his thoughts following the meeting he had had with Patriarch Kirill in La Habana.
Father Lombardi
We tried to tell the Pope to be quiet, to rest during the flight from Cuba to Mexico but he is so filled with enthusiasm and joy after this meeting that he absolutely wanted to hold another meeting with you, to explain his sentiments and to tell you about his desire. Your Holiness, thank you very much.
Pope Francis
Good evening. I believe that with the Declaration that you have received (the common declaration he had signed with Patriarch Kirill), you have enough work for tonight and also for tomorrow! This is why we will not have a question and answer period, but I want to tell you what's on my mind.
First of all, the feeling of welcome and the willingness of President Castro. I spoke with him about this meeting on a previous occasion, and he was open to doing whatever he could and we have seen how he prepared everything for us. I want to thank him for all he has done.
Second: with Patriarch Kirill. Ours was a conversation between brothers. We spoke clearly about points that preoccupy both of us. A very frank conversation. I felt as though I were sitting with a brother, and he told me that he felt the same way. Two bishops who are speaking about the situations facing their Churches, in the first place; and in the second, about the world situation, about war, war that is now threatening to be more than a question of piecemeal, but that might involve everyone; and about the situation of Orthodoxy, of the upcoming pan-orthodox Synod ... But I tell you, really, I have a great interior joy that is truly from the Lord. He spoke freely and I too spoke freely. We could feel the joy. The translators were very good, both of them. It was a six-eyed conversation: Patriarch Kirill, me, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion and His Eminence, Cardinal Koch, and the two translators ... but in full freedom. We both spoke, and the others also asked some questions.
Third, we drew up a programme of possible activities in common, so that unity can be continually advanced. Once I had said that if unity could be achieved in study, studying theology and the rest, perhaps the Lord would appear and we would still be working on achieving unity. Unity is achieved by walking together, walking: so that at least when the Lord appears, he may find us walking together.
Then we signed this Declaration that you have received: there will be many, many interpretations. But if you have any doubts, Father Lombardi can tell you the true significance of this document. It is not a political Declaration, it is not a sociological Declaration, it is a pastoral declaration, even when we speak about secularism and explicit things, about biogenic manipulation and all those things. This is a pastoral document: written by two bishops who have met and shared pastoral preoccupations. I am very happy about this. Now, we are 23 kilometres from the open popemobile ...
Thank you very much for your work: do what you can! Thank you very much, thank you.
Father Lombardi
Thank you very much, Your Holiness; enjoy the flight.
Following a three-hour flight, the aircraft carrying the Holy Father arrived at the Benito Juárez international airport in Mexico City shortly after 7:30pm local time.
Upon his arrival, Pope Francis was welcomed by the President of the Republic, Mister Enrique Peña Nieto and his wife. Also in attendance ere a few civil authorities, the Presiding Council and the Permanent Council of the Bishops of Mexico as well as many children and the faithful and several musical bands.
The Holy Father travelled in the popemobile to the Apostolic Nunciature in Mexico City.
At the moment that the aircraft left Cuban airspace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis sent a message telegraphically to the President of the State Council and of the Council of Ministries of the Republic of Cuba, His Excellency, Raúl Castro Ruz. His Holiness had already presented the text of this letter in written form as a letter of gratitude (in Spanish) to President Castro at the moment of his departure.
Letter of gratitude addressed by His Holiness, Pope Francis
to His Excellency, Raúl Castro
Mister President,
On my way to Mexico for my pastoral journey as a missionary of mercy and peace, I thank you for your generous hospitality during my brief stopover in Cuba, which has given me the opportunity to recall the affectionate and warm welcome the Cuban people extended to me last September. Above all, I would like to thank you, Mister President, and your government for the willingness to make possible my meeting with His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia. It has been an important meeting, from which I hope much good will come. We cannot cease to strive along the path of dialogue, encounter and understanding if we wish to achieve peace, reconciliation and the coexistence of all people of goodwill. I assure you, and the beloved Cuban nation which I carry in my heart, of my prayers, and please also pray for me.
Fraternally,
Francis
During the flight from Cuba to Mexico, the Holy Father once again wished to meet with journalists who were on board, to share with them his thoughts following the meeting he had had with Patriarch Kirill in La Habana.
Transcript of the remarks offered by His Holiness, Pope Francis
during the meeting with journalists en route from Cuba to Mexico
Father Lombardi
We tried to tell the Pope to be quiet, to rest during the flight from Cuba to Mexico but he is so filled with enthusiasm and joy after this meeting that he absolutely wanted to hold another meeting with you, to explain his sentiments and to tell you about his desire. Your Holiness, thank you very much.
Pope Francis
Good evening. I believe that with the Declaration that you have received (the common declaration he had signed with Patriarch Kirill), you have enough work for tonight and also for tomorrow! This is why we will not have a question and answer period, but I want to tell you what's on my mind.
First of all, the feeling of welcome and the willingness of President Castro. I spoke with him about this meeting on a previous occasion, and he was open to doing whatever he could and we have seen how he prepared everything for us. I want to thank him for all he has done.
Second: with Patriarch Kirill. Ours was a conversation between brothers. We spoke clearly about points that preoccupy both of us. A very frank conversation. I felt as though I were sitting with a brother, and he told me that he felt the same way. Two bishops who are speaking about the situations facing their Churches, in the first place; and in the second, about the world situation, about war, war that is now threatening to be more than a question of piecemeal, but that might involve everyone; and about the situation of Orthodoxy, of the upcoming pan-orthodox Synod ... But I tell you, really, I have a great interior joy that is truly from the Lord. He spoke freely and I too spoke freely. We could feel the joy. The translators were very good, both of them. It was a six-eyed conversation: Patriarch Kirill, me, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion and His Eminence, Cardinal Koch, and the two translators ... but in full freedom. We both spoke, and the others also asked some questions.
Third, we drew up a programme of possible activities in common, so that unity can be continually advanced. Once I had said that if unity could be achieved in study, studying theology and the rest, perhaps the Lord would appear and we would still be working on achieving unity. Unity is achieved by walking together, walking: so that at least when the Lord appears, he may find us walking together.
Then we signed this Declaration that you have received: there will be many, many interpretations. But if you have any doubts, Father Lombardi can tell you the true significance of this document. It is not a political Declaration, it is not a sociological Declaration, it is a pastoral declaration, even when we speak about secularism and explicit things, about biogenic manipulation and all those things. This is a pastoral document: written by two bishops who have met and shared pastoral preoccupations. I am very happy about this. Now, we are 23 kilometres from the open popemobile ...
Thank you very much for your work: do what you can! Thank you very much, thank you.
Father Lombardi
Thank you very much, Your Holiness; enjoy the flight.
Following a three-hour flight, the aircraft carrying the Holy Father arrived at the Benito Juárez international airport in Mexico City shortly after 7:30pm local time.
Upon his arrival, Pope Francis was welcomed by the President of the Republic, Mister Enrique Peña Nieto and his wife. Also in attendance ere a few civil authorities, the Presiding Council and the Permanent Council of the Bishops of Mexico as well as many children and the faithful and several musical bands.
The Holy Father travelled in the popemobile to the Apostolic Nunciature in Mexico City.
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