Aboard the plane which is carrying him to Mexico, with a stop in Cuba to meet with His Holiness, Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and of all Russia, Pope Francis conducted his usual press conference with representatives of the media who are accompanying him on the papal flight.
Introduced by the Director of the Vatican Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, the Pope spoke a few words to the journalists.
Father Lombardi
Holy Father, welcome among us, as always, at the beginning of these beautiful inter-continental journeys. This trip is very emotional. We know that it is one that you have desired very much, both to meet with the Patriarch and also to meet with the Mexican people. We are therefore preparing with great anticipation for these historic moments. We wish you all the best during these days and are with you to do our work well in spreading the Word of the Lord and your words.
As you can see, we are a good group, about 76, an international group. It is important that we have left space for Mexicans among us. There are ten Mexicans here, but they represent many nationalities and many countries. Now, we pass the microphone to you, for whatever you want to say at the beginning of this voyage. Thank you very much for joining us.
Pope Francis
Good morning! I thank you for your presence, for the work you are doing. This is a challenging trip, too tightly packed, but one that has been very much desired: much anticipated by my brother Kirill, by me and also by the Mexican people. The other day, during the Wednesday audience, your Mexican dean was waiting for me, to show me how to get into the time tunnel with the Cantinflas films. In this way, I entered Mexico through the door of Cantinflas, which made me laugh a lot. My most intimate desire is to stop and pray before the Madonna of Guadalupe, the mystery that you can study, study, study and there are no human explanations. Even the most scientific studies say: But this is of God. This is what he says to the Mexican people: I am an atheist, but I believe in Guadalupe. A few Mexicans, but not all, are atheists!
There is something else that I want to say to you: this is the last time that Doctor Gasbarri will accompany us. For 47 years he has worked at the Vatican. And for 37 years, he has been working with papal voyages. I tell you this so that during these days we can all express our gratitude to him and perhaps we can also plan a small party here, on our way back ... After this, Monsignor Mauricio Rueda will be in charge of papal voyages. Welcome!
Now, if you will let me, I want to greet each of you personally.
Father Lombardi
Before the Pope greets you individually, we invite our dean who, in addition to having given the film to the Pope, now wants to give him something to help protect him from the Mexican sun. This is the third Pope to whom Valentina has offered a hat!
Valentina Alazraki
So that you can feel that you are Mexican! The first one, I gave to John Paul II, 37 years ago. Then, he amassed a collection of them because he came to Mexico five times. Pope Benedict put his on in Guanajuato and said then that he felt as though he was Mexican. Now it is Your turn. What's more, this sombrero comes from Cuba. A Mexican family took it to Cuba, but they were unable to give it to you and they left it with me. I promised them, if you ever kept your promise to go to Mexico, I would present it to you. We would never have imagined that this sombrero would return to Cuba. This was a surprise! Thank you and have a great trip!
Pope Francis
Thank you for this. Thank you Valentina, and thank you to all the Mexican people, and thank you to all the journalists. Many thanks!
Introduced by the Director of the Vatican Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, the Pope spoke a few words to the journalists.
Press Conference granted by His Holiness, Pope Francis
en route to La Habana (Cuba)
Father Lombardi
Holy Father, welcome among us, as always, at the beginning of these beautiful inter-continental journeys. This trip is very emotional. We know that it is one that you have desired very much, both to meet with the Patriarch and also to meet with the Mexican people. We are therefore preparing with great anticipation for these historic moments. We wish you all the best during these days and are with you to do our work well in spreading the Word of the Lord and your words.
As you can see, we are a good group, about 76, an international group. It is important that we have left space for Mexicans among us. There are ten Mexicans here, but they represent many nationalities and many countries. Now, we pass the microphone to you, for whatever you want to say at the beginning of this voyage. Thank you very much for joining us.
Pope Francis
Good morning! I thank you for your presence, for the work you are doing. This is a challenging trip, too tightly packed, but one that has been very much desired: much anticipated by my brother Kirill, by me and also by the Mexican people. The other day, during the Wednesday audience, your Mexican dean was waiting for me, to show me how to get into the time tunnel with the Cantinflas films. In this way, I entered Mexico through the door of Cantinflas, which made me laugh a lot. My most intimate desire is to stop and pray before the Madonna of Guadalupe, the mystery that you can study, study, study and there are no human explanations. Even the most scientific studies say: But this is of God. This is what he says to the Mexican people: I am an atheist, but I believe in Guadalupe. A few Mexicans, but not all, are atheists!
There is something else that I want to say to you: this is the last time that Doctor Gasbarri will accompany us. For 47 years he has worked at the Vatican. And for 37 years, he has been working with papal voyages. I tell you this so that during these days we can all express our gratitude to him and perhaps we can also plan a small party here, on our way back ... After this, Monsignor Mauricio Rueda will be in charge of papal voyages. Welcome!
Now, if you will let me, I want to greet each of you personally.
Father Lombardi
Before the Pope greets you individually, we invite our dean who, in addition to having given the film to the Pope, now wants to give him something to help protect him from the Mexican sun. This is the third Pope to whom Valentina has offered a hat!
Valentina Alazraki
So that you can feel that you are Mexican! The first one, I gave to John Paul II, 37 years ago. Then, he amassed a collection of them because he came to Mexico five times. Pope Benedict put his on in Guanajuato and said then that he felt as though he was Mexican. Now it is Your turn. What's more, this sombrero comes from Cuba. A Mexican family took it to Cuba, but they were unable to give it to you and they left it with me. I promised them, if you ever kept your promise to go to Mexico, I would present it to you. We would never have imagined that this sombrero would return to Cuba. This was a surprise! Thank you and have a great trip!
Pope Francis
Thank you for this. Thank you Valentina, and thank you to all the Mexican people, and thank you to all the journalists. Many thanks!
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