As customary, Pope Francis sent telegrams to the leaders of the nations over which he flew en route to Korea. The texts of the telegram, all originally in English, are below.
Of special note was the telegram to Xi Jinping of China.
China is one of the few nations that does not maintain diplomatic ties with the Holy See.
Francis is the first Pope to fly through Chinese air space. Pope John Paul II flew a route that avoided China during his two visits to South Korea.
* * *
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA
LJUBLJANA
I EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW
CITIZENS AS I FLY OVER YOUR COUNTRY ON MY WAY TO KOREA FOR A
PASTORAL VISIT. INVOKING THE BLESSING OF ALMIGHTY GOD, I PRAY THAT HE
MAY GRANT THE NATION PEACE AND WELL-BEING.
FRANCISCUS PP.
* * *
HIS EXCELLENCY HEINZ FISCHER
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA
VIENNA
AS I ENTER AUSTRIAN AIR SPACE ON MY JOURNEY TO KOREA, I EXTEND
CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. I
INVOKE DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON YOU ALL, AS I ASK ALMIGHTY GOD TO GRANT
THE NATION THE GIFT OF WELL-BEING AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
* * *
HIS EXCELLENCY ANDREJ KISKA
PRESIDENT OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC
BRATISLAVA
AS I FLY OVER SLOVAKIA ON MY WAY TO KOREA, I SEND CORDIAL
GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. INVOKING
THE BLESSINGS OF ALMIGHTY GOD UPON YOU ALL, I PRAY THAT PEACE AND
WELL-BEING MAY FLOURISH IN THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
* * *
HIS EXCELLENCY BRONISŁAW KOMOROWSKI
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND
WARSAW
UPON ENTERING POLISH AIR SPACE, I WISH TO EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS
TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. I INVOKE DIVINE
BLESSINGS UPON YOU ALL, AND PRAY THAT ALMIGHTY GOD MAY BLESS THE
NATION WITH PEACE AND WELL-BEING.
BOLLETTINO N. 0571 – 14.08.2014 3
FRANCISCUS PP.
* * *
HIS EXCELLENCY ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS
MINSK
AS I FLY OVER YOUR NATIONAL TERRITORY, I EXTEND MY BEST WISHES TO
YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. INVOKING DIVING BLESSINGS
UPON THE NATION, I PRAY THAT ALMIGHTY GOD MAY GRANT YOU ALL
WELL-BEING AND PEACE.
FRANCISCUS PP.
* * *
HIS EXCELLENCY VLADIMIR PUTIN
PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
MOSCOW
AS I ENTER RUSSIAN AIR SPACE, I EXTEND MY BEST WISHES TO YOUR
EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. I INVOKE DIVINE BLESSINGS UPON
YOU ALL, PRAYING THAT ALMIGHTY GOD MAY GRANT THE NATION PEACE AND
WELL-BEING.
FRANCISCUS PP.
* **
PRESIDENT TSAKHIAGIIN ELBEGDORJ
PRESIDENT OF MONGOLIA
ULAANBAATAR
AS I FLY OVER MONGOLIA, I EXTEND TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR
FELLOW CITIZENS THE ASSURANCE OF MY BEST WISHES. INVOKING DIVINE
BLESSINGS UPON YOU ALL, I PRAY THAT PEACE AND WELL-BEING MAY
FLOURISH IN THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
* * *
HIS EXCELLENCY XI JINPING
PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
BEIJING
UPON ENTERING CHINESE AIR SPACE, I EXTEND BEST WISHES TO YOUR
EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, AND I INVOKE THE DIVINE
BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND WELL-BEING UPON THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
[01255-02.01] [Original text: English]
