Below are the texts of the telegrams Pope Francis sent to the Heads of State of the countries his plane flew over yesterday while flying from Armenia to Rome after his 14th Apostolic Visit abroad, June 24-26:
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TURKEY:
HIS EXCELLENCY RECEP TAYYIP ERDOĞAN
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY
ANKARA
AS MY RETURN FLIGHT CARRIES ME OVER TURKEY, I RENEW TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS MY GOOD WISHES, AND I INVOKE THE ALMIGHTY´S BLESSING UPON YOUR LAND.
FRANCISCUS PP.
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BULGARIA:
HIS EXCELLENCY ROSEN PLEVNELIEV
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
SOFIA
FLYING OVER BULGARIA ON RETURNING FROM MY VISIT TO ARMENIA, I RENEW MY BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
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TURKEY:
HIS EXCELLENCY RECEP TAYYIP ERDOĞAN
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY
ANKARA
AS MY RETURN FLIGHT CARRIES ME OVER TURKEY, I RENEW TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS MY GOOD WISHES, AND I INVOKE THE ALMIGHTY´S BLESSING UPON YOUR LAND.
FRANCISCUS PP.
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BULGARIA:
HIS EXCELLENCY ROSEN PLEVNELIEV
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
SOFIA
FLYING OVER BULGARIA ON RETURNING FROM MY VISIT TO ARMENIA, I RENEW MY BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
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SERBIA:
HIS EXCELLENCY TOMISLAV NIKOLIĆ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
BELGRADE
FLYING OVER SERBIA ON THE RETURN JOURNEY FROM MY PASTORAL VISIT TO ARMENIA, I WISH TO RENEW MY BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, AND UPON ALL IN THE NATION I INVOKE THE BLESSING OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
FRANCISCUS PP.
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MONTENEGRO:
HIS EXCELLENCY FILIP VUJANOVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO
PODGORICA
AS I FLY OVER MONTENEGRO ON RETURNING FROM ARMENIA, I EXTEND ONCE AGAIN MY GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
HIS EXCELLENCY BAKIR IZETBEGOVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
SARAJEVO
AS MY RETURN FLIGHT TO ROME CARRIES ME OVER BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, I RENEW TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS MY GOOD WISHES AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
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CROATIA:
HER EXCELLENCY KOLINDA GRABAR-KITAROVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
ZAGREB
FLYING OVER CROATIA ON THE RETURN FROM MY JOURNEY TO ARMENIA, I RENEW TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS MY BEST WISHES AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE CROATIAN PEOPLE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
[Original texts: English] [Telegram texts provided by the Vatican] ***
To His Excellency
The Honorable Sergio Mattarella
President of the Italian Republic
Quirinale Palace – 00187 Rome
Upon returning from the Pastoral Visit to Armenia, where I was able to meet several representatives of the population and express my affectionate esteem to the Christian Communities charged with history, exhorting all to continue on the path of dialogue and concord, I send to you, Mister President, and to the dear Italian Nation, my auspicious greetings, united to the hope of a growing commitment in favor of the needs of the people, in particular of the family, foundation of coexistence and remedy against social disintegration.
Francis PP.
[Original texts: English] [Telegram texts provided by the Vatican]
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
BELGRADE
FLYING OVER SERBIA ON THE RETURN JOURNEY FROM MY PASTORAL VISIT TO ARMENIA, I WISH TO RENEW MY BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, AND UPON ALL IN THE NATION I INVOKE THE BLESSING OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
FRANCISCUS PP.
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MONTENEGRO:
HIS EXCELLENCY FILIP VUJANOVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO
PODGORICA
AS I FLY OVER MONTENEGRO ON RETURNING FROM ARMENIA, I EXTEND ONCE AGAIN MY GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
HIS EXCELLENCY BAKIR IZETBEGOVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
SARAJEVO
AS MY RETURN FLIGHT TO ROME CARRIES ME OVER BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, I RENEW TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS MY GOOD WISHES AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
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CROATIA:
HER EXCELLENCY KOLINDA GRABAR-KITAROVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
ZAGREB
FLYING OVER CROATIA ON THE RETURN FROM MY JOURNEY TO ARMENIA, I RENEW TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS MY BEST WISHES AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE CROATIAN PEOPLE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
[Original texts: English] [Telegram texts provided by the Vatican] ***
To His Excellency
The Honorable Sergio Mattarella
President of the Italian Republic
Quirinale Palace – 00187 Rome
Upon returning from the Pastoral Visit to Armenia, where I was able to meet several representatives of the population and express my affectionate esteem to the Christian Communities charged with history, exhorting all to continue on the path of dialogue and concord, I send to you, Mister President, and to the dear Italian Nation, my auspicious greetings, united to the hope of a growing commitment in favor of the needs of the people, in particular of the family, foundation of coexistence and remedy against social disintegration.
Francis PP.
[Original texts: English] [Telegram texts provided by the Vatican]