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- Flying over Israel, Pope Francis sends greetings to President Rivlin
Flying over Israel, Pope Francis sends greetings to President Rivlin
Rivlin said he was moved by the 'kind words'
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![Pope Francis and Israel's President Reuven Rivlin meet during a private audience in the Pontiff's private library at the Vatican, on September 3, 2015](https://cdn.i24news.tv/upload/image/afp-ec5c91890a3b5a01d3994eb85b5cc7aba71408b0.jpg?width=1000)
A pilot who flew Pope Francis on his historic flight to Iraq on Friday relayed a message to Israeli air traffic control addressed to Israel's President Reuven Rivlin.
“To His Excellency Reuven Rivlin, President of the State of Israel. Entering Israeli airspace on my Apostolic journey to Iraq, I send warm greetings to you and the people of the nation," Francis said. "Praying that almighty God will bless you all with His gift of harmony and peace. Franciscus Papa.”
https://x.com/i/web/status/1368259651364655104
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Air traffic control of the Israel Airports Authority in the north of the country thanked the pilot and promised to convey the message to the president, who said he was "deeply moved by the kind words from the Pope," with whom he is "in close and warm contact."
On Saturday Francis held a historic meeting with Iraq’s top Shi’ite cleric and visited the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham to condemn violence in the name of God as “the greatest blasphemy.”