ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE, MARCH 23, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Following tradition, Benedict XVI today issued telegrams to the leaders of the countries he passed over while flying to Mexico. The telegrams were all to English-speaking countries, except those to France and Italy. The texts of the English-language telegrams are below:
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HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
LONDON
AS MY JOURNEY TO MEXICO AND CUBA TAKES ME OVER THE UNITED KINGDOM I AVAIL MYSELF OF THE OCCASION TO SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR MAJESTY AND TO ASSURE YOU AND ALL THE BRITISH PEOPLE OF A SPECIAL REMEMBRANCE IN MY PRAYERS.
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
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HIS EXCELLENCY MICHAEL HIGGINS
PRESIDENT OF IRELAND
DUBLIN
AS I PASS OVER IRELAND ON MY WAY TO MEXICO AND CUBA I GREET YOUR EXCELLENCY AND ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND UPON WHOM I INVOKE GOD’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
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HER MAJESTY MARGRETHE II
QUEEN OF DENMARK
AMALIENBORG PALACE
COPENHAGEN
AS MY JOURNEY TO MEXICO AND CUBA TAKES ME OVER GREENLAND, I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR MAJESTY AND I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS AND GOOD WISHES FOR THE PEOPLES OF YOUR REALM.
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
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HIS EXCELLENCY
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE DAVID JOHNSTON
GOVERNOR GENERAL
OTTAWA
AS I TRAVEL OVER CANADA TO MEXICO AND CUBA, I AM PLEASED TO GREET YOUR EXCELLENCY AND TO ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS AND GOOD WISHES FOR YOU AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS.
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
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THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
WASHINGTON
AS I PASS OVER THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON MY JOURNEY TO MEXICO AND CUBA I OFFER YOU GREETINGS AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL GRANT PROSPERITY AND EVERY BLESSING TO ALL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
