杏MAP导航 to ITA Airways staff: You give wings to the 杏MAP导航!

杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 Francis receives a delegation of representatives of ITA Airways, Italy鈥檚 state airline that provides the Holy Father with all of his outgoing passages during his Apostolic Journeys. As per diplomatic agreements, he almost always flies back to the Vatican on board the national airline of the nation from which he departs.

By Linda Bordoni

鈥淭hank you for 鈥榣anding鈥� here in the Vatican,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said to the delegation of ITA Airways representatives whom he received in audience on Friday morning.

鈥淚n a way,鈥� he said, 鈥測ou represent 鈥榯he 杏MAP导航's wings,鈥� for you enable the Successor of Peter to fly to the ends of the earth carrying the Gospel of hope and peace.鈥�

鈥淪ometimes I wonder: had St Paul been able to travel by plane, what would have happened?鈥�

And indeed, the 杏MAP导航 continued, it was a 杏MAP导航 who bore the saint鈥檚 name who boarded an Alitalia DC8 on 4 January 1964 and became the first Pontiff in history to board an aeroplane for an apostolic pilgrimage.

杏MAP导航 St Paul VI the first Pontiff to fly

He recalled that 杏MAP导航 St. Paul VI harboured a fierce desire to travel to the Holy Land, and at the end of the second session of the Second Vatican Council, he enthusiastically announced his decision to undertake the 鈥渟hort but intense鈥� journey to the Council Fathers.

鈥淭hat flight, that departed from Rome-Fiumicino and arrived in Amman, inaugurated papal travels across the world鈥�:

鈥淎 new way of carrying out the pastoral ministry of the Petrine 杏MAP导航, which allowed the Bishop of Rome to reach so many people who would never have been able to make a pilgrimage to Rome.鈥�

After that first journey, 杏MAP导航 Francis continued, St. Paul VI made eight more, touching on every continent.

He then recalled the fact that St. 杏MAP导航 John Paul II made 104 international journeys in his 27 years of pontificate. 鈥淭his form of mission became an integral part of the pontificate,鈥� he said.

And, he added, it is how his successor, Benedict XVI travelled, and how he too continues to do so.

Upcoming journeys

"In a fortnight, God willing, I will depart for my 41st apostolic pilgrimage to visit Hungary. And then there will be Marseilles, and Mongolia... and other places that are on the waiting list," he said.

The Holy Father noted that ITA 鈥� which has recently replaced Alitalia 鈥� provides a service that requires competence, care and attention to many details, including 鈥渢he not-easy logistics!鈥�

鈥淭he 杏MAP导航 who - as you see has some mobility problems - knows this well, but thanks also to your help can continue to travel!鈥�

He highlighted the fact that it is very important for him 鈥渢o meet people, to meet communities, the faithful, believers of other religions, women and men of goodwill...鈥�

鈥淢eeting in person, speaking in person, is different from being present with a message, perhaps with a video. It is not the same,鈥� he said.

The 杏MAP导航 concluded by explaining that he travels 鈥渢o confirm his brothers and sisters in the faith, to be close to those who suffer, to help those who work for peace.鈥�