Below are the texts of the telegrams Pope Francis sent to the Heads of State of the countries his plane flew over Saturday afternoon while flying back to Rome from the Greek Island of Lesbos, where he met with refugees:
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GREECE:
HIS EXCELLENCY PROKOPIS PAVLOPOULOS
PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC
ATHENS
AS I DEPART GREECE I WISH TO RENEW MY GRATITUDE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE GOVERNMENT FOR YOUR GENEROUS ASSISTANCE DURING MY VISIT. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS, I INVOKE UPON THE NATION AND ALL ITS PEOPLE ALMIGHTY GOD’S BLESSINGS OF HARMONY AND PROSPERITY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
[Original text: English] [Vatican-provided text] ***
ALBANIA:
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GREECE:
HIS EXCELLENCY PROKOPIS PAVLOPOULOS
PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC
ATHENS
AS I DEPART GREECE I WISH TO RENEW MY GRATITUDE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE GOVERNMENT FOR YOUR GENEROUS ASSISTANCE DURING MY VISIT. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS, I INVOKE UPON THE NATION AND ALL ITS PEOPLE ALMIGHTY GOD’S BLESSINGS OF HARMONY AND PROSPERITY.
FRANCISCUS PP.
[Original text: English] [Vatican-provided text] ***
ALBANIA:
HIS EXCELLENCY BUJAR NISHANI
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
TIRANË
I RENEW MY CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER THE COUNTRY ON MY WAY FROM GREECE TO THE VATICAN. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY CONTINUED PRAYERS FOR ALL THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE, I INVOKE THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND HARMONY UPON THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
TIRANË
I RENEW MY CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER THE COUNTRY ON MY WAY FROM GREECE TO THE VATICAN. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY CONTINUED PRAYERS FOR ALL THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE, I INVOKE THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND HARMONY UPON THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
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ITALY:
TO HIS EXCELLENCY
HONORABLE SERGIO MATTARELLA
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC
PALACE QUIRINALE – 00187 ROMA
AS I RETURN FROM MY VISIT TO GREECE, WHERE I WITNESSED THE SUFFERINGS AND HOPES OF SO MANY PEOPLE, WHO HAVE THE RIGHT TO A FUTURE OF SERENITY AND PEACE, I EXPRESS TO YOU, MISTER PRESIDENT, MY CORDIAL GREETING, INVOKING THE DIVINE BLESSING ON THE ENTIRE ITALIAN NATION, SO THAT EVERYWHERE AN EVER MORE LIVELY INTEREST IS AFFIRMED FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
FRANCISCUS PP.
[Original Text: Italiano]
[Translation by ZENIT]
