Below are the texts of the telegrams Pope Francis sent to the Heads of State of the countries his plane flew over this morning while flying from Rome to the Greek Island of Lesbos to meet with refugees:
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TO HIS EXCELLENCY
HONORABLE SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALACE QUIRINALE – 00187 ROMA
AS I LEAVE ITALIAN SOIL TO GO TO GREECE TO BRING COMFORT TO MANY REFUGEES, I AM PARTICULARLY PLEASED TO GIVE YOU, MR PRESIDENT, MY RESPECTFUL GREETING, WHICH IS ACCOMPANIED BY MY FERVENT THOUGHT, BLESSING AND PRAYER THAT THE ITALIAN PEOPLE MAY FACE WITH LONG-TERM VISION AND SOLIDARITY THE CHALLENGES OF OUR TIMES:
FRANCISCUS PP.
[Original Text: Italiano] [Translation by Deborah Castellano Lubov] ***
HIS EXCELLENCY BUJAR NISHANI
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
TIRANË
I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I TRAVEL OVER ALBANIAN AIR SPACE. UPON ALL OF YOU I INVOKE THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND JOY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
[Original text: English] [Vatican-provided text] ***
HIS EXCELLENCY PROKOPIS PAVLOPOULOS
PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC
ATHENS
ON ENTERING IN GREEK AIRSPACE I ASSURE YOUR EXCELLENCY OF MY GOOD WISHES AND PRAYERS FOR YOU AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. LOOKING FORWARD WITH GREAT PLEASURE TO MY VISIT, I INVOKE GOD’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND STRENGTH UPON ALL OF YOU.
FRANCISCUS PP.
[Original text: English] [Vatican-provided text]
[Original Text: Italiano] [Translation by Deborah Castellano Lubov] ***
HIS EXCELLENCY BUJAR NISHANI
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
TIRANË
I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AS I TRAVEL OVER ALBANIAN AIR SPACE. UPON ALL OF YOU I INVOKE THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND JOY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
[Original text: English] [Vatican-provided text] ***
HIS EXCELLENCY PROKOPIS PAVLOPOULOS
PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC
ATHENS
ON ENTERING IN GREEK AIRSPACE I ASSURE YOUR EXCELLENCY OF MY GOOD WISHES AND PRAYERS FOR YOU AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. LOOKING FORWARD WITH GREAT PLEASURE TO MY VISIT, I INVOKE GOD’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND STRENGTH UPON ALL OF YOU.
FRANCISCUS PP.
[Original text: English] [Vatican-provided text]