The Holy Father on his way to Budapest

During his flight from Rome to Budapest on Sunday morning, 12 September, for the beginning of his Apostolic Journey to Budapest and Slovakia, the Holy Father thanked and greeted the 78 journalists and media workers onboard, and made a surprise announcement. “This flight has something of a farewell feel to it, because the Master of Ceremonies is leaving us: it is his last journey, because he has become a bishop. Then we are left with the dictator on duty [he turns and smiles at Bishop Dieudonné Datonou]. He is good... he too has been appointed bishop and leaves his role to a Monsignor, George is his name, from India [Msgr. George Jacob Koovakad]”, whom he said, “always smiles, always”. Indeed, he added, he “will be a dictator with a smile”. After landing at Budapest’s international airport, the Pope was welcomed on board by ...