At 12.50 p.m. local time (9.50 in Rome), Pope Francis arrived at the Presidential Airport of Abu Dhabi where the farewell ceremony took place prior to leaving the United Arab Emirates.
Upon arrival, the Pope was received by the Crown Prince, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The Holy Father and the Crown Prince were then greeted by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin; Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches; Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; H.E. Msgr. Edgar Peña Parra, substitute of the Secretariat of State; H.E. Msgr. Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.J., secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; the United Arab Emirates delegation and local dignitaries. Pope Francis then boarded an Etihad B787 to return to Italy.
Telegram to the President of the United Arab Emirates
Immediately after departure by air from Abu Dhabi, the Holy Father Francis sent to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, the following telegram:
HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH KHALIFA BIN ZAYED AL-NAHYAN
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
ABU DHABI
AS I DEPART FROM THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, I RENEW MY DEEP APPRECIATION TO YOUR HIGHNESS, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES FOR YOUR WARM WELCOME AND GENEROUS HOSPITALITY. I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS AND INVOKE UPON ALL OF YOU ABUNDANT DIVINE BLESSINGS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
