Yesterday morning, His Holiness, Pope Francis traveled to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to pray for the success of his 31st Apostolic Visit abroad to the African countries of Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius which will begin tomorrow.
The Holy Father almost always visits Rome’s Marian Basilica to pray for Mary’s protection and intercession before and after his papal trips.
According to the Holy See Press Office, the Pope prayed before the ancient image of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, and invoked the Virgin Mary’s protection on his travels and upon the people he will visit in the country over the weekend.
This morning, the Holy Father, Pope Francis began his 31st International Apostolic Voyage which will take him to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius.
At 7:00am local time (1:00am EDT), before leaving the Casa Santa Marta to make his way to the airport, the Holy Father met approximately 12 people from Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius who are being cared for by the Astalli Centre and the Sant'Egidio Community. The group was accompanied by the Apostolic Almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski.
At 7:20am (1:20am EDT), His Holiness left the Vatican and travelled by car to Rome's Fumicino International Airport where, shortly after 8:00am, he boarded an Alitalia A330 and left for Mozambique.
His Holiness is expected to arrive at the airport in Maputo at 6:30pm local time.
At the moment when he left Italian airspace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Italian Republic, the Honourable Sergio Mattarella.
To His Excellency
The Honourable Sergio Mattarella
President of the Italian Republic
Palazzo del Quirinale
At the moment when I am beginning an Apostolic Voyage in Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius, filled with a fervent desire to meet my brothers and sisters in faith and the inhabitants of those beloved nations, I am pleased to send you, Mister President, the expression of my respectful greeting which is accompanied by my fervent prayers for the wellbeing of the Italian people.
Francis
During the flight to Maputo (Mozambique), while flying over Greece, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia, the Holy Father, Pope Francis sent the following telegrams to the respective Heads of State.
While flying over Greece
His Excellency, Prokopis Pavlopoulos
President of the Hellenic Republic
Athens
As I fly over Greece on my pastoral visit to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius, I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and the people of Greece. Invoking divine blessings upon the nation, I pray that Almighty God may grant you peace and joy.
Francis
While flying over Egypt
His Excellency, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Cairo
I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency as I fly over Egypt on my way to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius. Invoking upon you the Almighty's blessings of peace and prosperity, I assure you of my prayers for the nation and its people.
Francis
While flying over Sudan
Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan
Chairman of the Transitional Military Council
Acting Head of State of the Republic of Sudan
Khartoum
I offer best wishes and the assurance of my prayers as my journey to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius takes me over the Republic of Sudan. Entrusting the people of Sudan to the Almighty's providential care, I willingly invoke upon all of you His blessings of peace and reconciliation.
Francis
While flying over South Sudan
His Excellency, Salva Kiir Mayardit
President of the Republic of South Sudan
Juba
I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency as I fly over South Sudan on my way to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius. I assure you of my continued prayers for the country and its people and I invoke upon all of you Almighty God's blessings of peace.
Francis
While flying over Uganda
His Excellency, Yoweri Museveni
President of the Republic of Uganda
Kampala
As I fly over Uganda on my way to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius, I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens. In offering the assurance of my prayers for peace and harmony in the nation, I invoke abundant divine blessings upon all of you.
Francis
While flying over Tanzania
His Excellency, John Magufuli
President of the United Republic of Tanzania
Dodoma
I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and to your fellow citizens as I fly over Tanzania on my way to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius for a pastoral visit. I invoke divine blessings upon your country, and I pray that Almighty God may bless you all with peace and well-being.
Francis
While flying over Malawi
His Excellency, Peter Mutharika
President of the Republic of Malawi
Lilongwe
As my pastoral visit to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius takes me over Malawi, I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and to your fellow citizens. Assuring you of my prayers for the peace and well-being of the nation, I invoke divine blessings upon all of you.
Francis
While flying over Zambia
His Excellency, Edgar Lungu
President of the Republic of Zambia
Lusaka
As I enter Zambian airspace, I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens. I assure you of my prayers for the well-being and peace of the nation, and invoke the blessing of Almighty God upon you all.
Francis
Upon his arrival at the airport in Maputo (Mozambique), the Holy Father, Pope Francis was welcomed, at the foot of the front stairs to the plane, by the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Mister Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, and his wife. Some children dressed in traditional costumes presented the Holy Father with a floral tribute.
Following the playing of the national anthems, the presentation of military honours and the introductions of the members of the respective delegations, the Holy Father greeted the bishops of Mozambique and a small group of the faithful who were present. Then, after having inspected the Guard of Honour, before leaving the Maputo airport, the Pope spent a considerable amount of time attending a performance of folk dances, music and songs performed in traditional costumes. Immediately afterwards, the President of the Republic accompanied the Pope to the popemobile which took him to the Apostolic Nunciature in Maputo.
Upon his arrival, outside the Nunciature, the Holy Father was welcomed by a group of young people and received, at the entrance to the residence, by the religious personnel of that Pontifical Representation.
The Holy Father almost always visits Rome’s Marian Basilica to pray for Mary’s protection and intercession before and after his papal trips.
According to the Holy See Press Office, the Pope prayed before the ancient image of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, and invoked the Virgin Mary’s protection on his travels and upon the people he will visit in the country over the weekend.
This morning, the Holy Father, Pope Francis began his 31st International Apostolic Voyage which will take him to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius.
At 7:00am local time (1:00am EDT), before leaving the Casa Santa Marta to make his way to the airport, the Holy Father met approximately 12 people from Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius who are being cared for by the Astalli Centre and the Sant'Egidio Community. The group was accompanied by the Apostolic Almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski.
At 7:20am (1:20am EDT), His Holiness left the Vatican and travelled by car to Rome's Fumicino International Airport where, shortly after 8:00am, he boarded an Alitalia A330 and left for Mozambique.
His Holiness is expected to arrive at the airport in Maputo at 6:30pm local time.
At the moment when he left Italian airspace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Italian Republic, the Honourable Sergio Mattarella.
To His Excellency
The Honourable Sergio Mattarella
President of the Italian Republic
Palazzo del Quirinale
At the moment when I am beginning an Apostolic Voyage in Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius, filled with a fervent desire to meet my brothers and sisters in faith and the inhabitants of those beloved nations, I am pleased to send you, Mister President, the expression of my respectful greeting which is accompanied by my fervent prayers for the wellbeing of the Italian people.
Francis
During the flight to Maputo (Mozambique), while flying over Greece, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia, the Holy Father, Pope Francis sent the following telegrams to the respective Heads of State.
While flying over Greece
His Excellency, Prokopis Pavlopoulos
President of the Hellenic Republic
Athens
As I fly over Greece on my pastoral visit to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius, I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and the people of Greece. Invoking divine blessings upon the nation, I pray that Almighty God may grant you peace and joy.
Francis
While flying over Egypt
His Excellency, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Cairo
I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency as I fly over Egypt on my way to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius. Invoking upon you the Almighty's blessings of peace and prosperity, I assure you of my prayers for the nation and its people.
Francis
While flying over Sudan
Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan
Chairman of the Transitional Military Council
Acting Head of State of the Republic of Sudan
Khartoum
I offer best wishes and the assurance of my prayers as my journey to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius takes me over the Republic of Sudan. Entrusting the people of Sudan to the Almighty's providential care, I willingly invoke upon all of you His blessings of peace and reconciliation.
Francis
While flying over South Sudan
His Excellency, Salva Kiir Mayardit
President of the Republic of South Sudan
Juba
I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency as I fly over South Sudan on my way to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius. I assure you of my continued prayers for the country and its people and I invoke upon all of you Almighty God's blessings of peace.
Francis
While flying over Uganda
His Excellency, Yoweri Museveni
President of the Republic of Uganda
Kampala
As I fly over Uganda on my way to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius, I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens. In offering the assurance of my prayers for peace and harmony in the nation, I invoke abundant divine blessings upon all of you.
Francis
While flying over Tanzania
His Excellency, John Magufuli
President of the United Republic of Tanzania
Dodoma
I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and to your fellow citizens as I fly over Tanzania on my way to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius for a pastoral visit. I invoke divine blessings upon your country, and I pray that Almighty God may bless you all with peace and well-being.
Francis
While flying over Malawi
His Excellency, Peter Mutharika
President of the Republic of Malawi
Lilongwe
As my pastoral visit to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius takes me over Malawi, I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and to your fellow citizens. Assuring you of my prayers for the peace and well-being of the nation, I invoke divine blessings upon all of you.
Francis
While flying over Zambia
His Excellency, Edgar Lungu
President of the Republic of Zambia
Lusaka
As I enter Zambian airspace, I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens. I assure you of my prayers for the well-being and peace of the nation, and invoke the blessing of Almighty God upon you all.
Francis
Upon his arrival at the airport in Maputo (Mozambique), the Holy Father, Pope Francis was welcomed, at the foot of the front stairs to the plane, by the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Mister Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, and his wife. Some children dressed in traditional costumes presented the Holy Father with a floral tribute.
Following the playing of the national anthems, the presentation of military honours and the introductions of the members of the respective delegations, the Holy Father greeted the bishops of Mozambique and a small group of the faithful who were present. Then, after having inspected the Guard of Honour, before leaving the Maputo airport, the Pope spent a considerable amount of time attending a performance of folk dances, music and songs performed in traditional costumes. Immediately afterwards, the President of the Republic accompanied the Pope to the popemobile which took him to the Apostolic Nunciature in Maputo.
Upon his arrival, outside the Nunciature, the Holy Father was welcomed by a group of young people and received, at the entrance to the residence, by the religious personnel of that Pontifical Representation.
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