Pope Francis arrived in the French city of Marseille on the afternoon of September 22 and was welcomed by the French Prime Minister. During his trip to attend the closing event of the third “Mediterranean Regional Conference” on migration, the Pope said to fellow journalists: “I hope to have the courage to say everything I want to say.”
(Vatican News Network) Pope Francis arrived in the southern French city of Marseille on the afternoon of Friday, September 22, to attend the closing event of the third “Mediterranean Regional Conference” held there. When the Pope arrived at the international airport in Marseille, French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne came to greet the Pope in front of the special plane. The Holy See Ambassador to France and the Director of the French Protocol Department came to greet the Pope in the cabin. Afterwards, the Pope got off the plane in an elevator.
Four children in traditional costumes presented flowers to the Pope and presented the statue of Sant’Eloi, which is highly revered by the locals, to the Pope. After playing the Vatican and French national anthems, marching to the military salute, and introducing the delegations from both sides, the Pope and the French Prime Minister came to the Hélène Boucher drawing room for a brief private meeting.
The Pope departed from Rome Leonardo da Vinci International Airport for Marseille at 2:45 pm that day. This was his 44th international apostolic journey. Marseille is the second French city that Pope Francis has visited. He visited Strasbourg in 2014. The pope’s visit came at the closing event of the “Mediterranean Regional Conference” held in Marseille, which was devoted to the theme of migration. “I hope I have the courage to say everything I want to say,” he told fellow reporters on the special plane to Marseille. Talking about the continuous landing of immigrants in Lampedusa and other areas in recent days, the Pope expressed his gratitude to many expressed distress at the “brutal acts” suffered by immigrants.
Link URL:www.vaticannews.cn
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2023-09-23 09:06:33
