During every papal trip, Pope Francis sends a telegram to the Head of State of each country his plane flies over, giving each one his cordial greetings.

Here are the telegrams from his flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka, in their original languages.

Italy

A SUA ECCELLENZA
ON. GIORGIO NAPOLITANO
PRESIDENTE  DELLA  REPUBBLICA ITALIANA
PALAZZO  DEL  QUIRINALE                                         
00187   ROMA

NEL LASCIARE ROMA, PER INTRAPRENDERE IL VIAGGIO APOSTOLICO IN SRI LANKA E FILIPPINE, MI E’ CARO RIVOLGERE A LEI, SIGNOR PRESIDENTE, IL MIO DEFERENTE SALUTO, ACCOMPAGNATO DA SINCERI AUSPICI DI SERENITA’, DI UNITA’ E DI BENESSERE SPIRITUALE E SOCIALE DEL POPOLO ITALIANO, CUI INVIO CON AFFETTO LA BENEDIZIONE APOSTOLICA

FRANCISCUS PP.

Albania

HIS EXCELLENCY BUJAR NISHANI
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
TIRANA

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER ALBANIA ON MY WAY TO SRI LANKA AND THE PHILIPPINES.  WITH WARM MEMORIES OF MY RECENT VISIT TO THE COUNTRY, I RENEW THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE NATION AND ITS PEOPLE.

FRANCISCUS PP


Greece

HIS EXCELLENCY KAROLOS PAPOULIAS
PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC
ATHENS

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER YOUR COUNTRY ON MY WAY TO SRI LANKA AND THE PHILIPPINES.  I ASSURE YOU AND ALL THE CITIZENS OF GREECE OF A REMEMBRANCE IN MY PRAYERS, AND I INVOKE UPON EACH OF YOU GOD’S ABUNDANT BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND JOY.

FRANCISCUS PP


Turkey

HIS EXCELLENCY RECEP TAYYİP ERDOĞAN
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY
ANKARA

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER TURKEY ON MY WAY TO SRI LANKA AND THE PHILIPPINES.  WITH WARM MEMORIES OF MY RECENT VISIT TO THE COUNTRY, I RENEW THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE NATION AND ITS PEOPLE.

FRANCISCUS PP


Iran

HIS EMINENCE AYATOLLAH ALI HOSEINI-KHAMENEI
SUPREME LEADER OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
TEHRAN

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER IRAN ON MY WAY TO SRI LANKA AND THE PHILIPPINES.  I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE NATION AND ITS PEOPLE, INVOKING UPON YOU THE ALMIGHTY’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

FRANCISCUS PP


United Arab Emirates  (UAE)

HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH KHALIFA BIN ZAYID BIN SULTAN AL-NAHYAN
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
ABU DHABI

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR HIGHNESS AS I FLY OVER THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ON MY WAY TO SRI LANKA AND THE PHILIPPINES.  I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE EMIRATES AND THEIR PEOPLE, INVOKING UPON YOU THE ALMIGHTY’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

FRANCISCUS PP


Oman

HIS MAJESTY QABOOS BIN SAID AL-SAID
SULTAN OF OMAN
MUSCAT

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR MAJESTY AS I FLY OVER OMAN ON MY WAY TO SRI LANKA AND THE PHILIPPINES.  I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE SULTANATE AND ITS PEOPLE, INVOKING UPON YOU THE ALMIGHTY’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

FRANCISCUS PP


India

HIS EXCELLENCY PRANAB MUKHERJEE
PRESIDENT OF INDIA
NEW DELHI

I SEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AS I FLY OVER INDIA ON MY WAY TO SRI LANKA AND THE PHILIPPINES.  I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE COUNTRY AND ITS PEOPLE, INVOKING UPON ALL OF YOU THE ALMIGHTY’S BLESSINGS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.


FRANCISCUS PP

(Vatican Radio)