His Holiness’ blessings to State heads during flight

POPE Francis issued telegrams to the heads of state of countries through whose airspace his flight passed.

The greetings, signed Franciscus PP, were sent to the Italian President Sergio Mattarella, the President of the Swiss Federation Alain Berset, French President Emmanuel Macron, and to Queen Elizabeth.

In his message to Mattarella, the pontiff said he invoked on his nation “abundant gifts of wisdom to continue to appreciate and tend to the value of marriage and the family”.

To Berset, Pope Francis wished “the blessing of Almighty God” upon Switzerland and prayed for “peace and well-being”. In a telegram to President Macron, he offered “best wishes and the assurance of my prayers” and “the blessings of joy and peace”.

The pontiff also extended “cordial greetings” to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, “the members of the Royal Family, and the people of the United Kingdom”.

He added: “I willingly invoke upon all of you the abundant blessings of Almighty God.”