The Pope in Armenia

The Pope was greeted with an official ceremony in Zvartnos Airport. The cortege headed to Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for holding a mass there.

As part of his official 3-day visit, Pope Francis will visit the Genocide Memorial on June 25. After that, he will head to Gyumri for a mass. 15.000 people from different countries registered themselves for attending the mass in Gyumri.

It is reported that Pope Francis, in an ecumenical lunch, will meet with Catholicos Karekin II, Archbishops, and Bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholic Bishops of Armenia, and Cardinals and Bishops from the Papal entourage in the Apostolic Palace. And he is expected to release a joint declaration with Karekin II.

The Pope released a video addressing to Armenian people before his visit and said, “I desire to come among you, to support [your] every effort towards peace—and I would share our steps on the pathway of reconciliation, which generates hope."

Pope Francis is the second pope who visited Armenia.

In 2001, Pope John Paul II visted Armenia and signed a joint declaration with Armenian Apostolic Church.