Details of Pope Francis’ visit to Armenia unveiled

The press service of the Armenian president has unveiled today the details of the upcoming visit to Armenia by Pope Francis. The head of the Roman Catholic Church will begin his visit to Armenia on June 24.

YEREVAN, May 13. /ARKA/. The press service of the Armenian president has unveiled today the details of the upcoming visit to Armenia by Pope Francis. The head of the Roman Catholic Church will begin his visit to Armenia on June 24. After the official welcoming ceremony at Yerevan Zvartnots airport, the Pope will head to Holy Etchmiadzin, the seat of the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The welcome ceremony will be held at the Etchmiadzin Cathedral. On the same day, in the evening the Pope will have a meeting with president Serzh Sargsyan’s at  the presidential palace, and then with representatives of the Armenian authorities, society and the diplomatic corps.

The first day of the visit will be wrapped up by a meeting of Pope Francis with the head of the Armenian Church, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.

In the morning of June 25 the Pope will visit the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide and the Genocide Museum. Then the Pope and the Catholicos of All Armenians will leave for Gyumri, where a Divine Liturgy will be served at Vardanants Square.

In Gyumri, the Pope will visit the monastery of Our Lady of Armenia of the Congregation of Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, as well as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Virgin (Seven Wounds) of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. After that Pope Francis will visit the Armenian Catholic Cathedral Church of the Holy Martyrs.

On the same day in the evening, at  Republic Square in Yerevan an ecumenical ceremony will be held and a prayer for peace offered.

On June 26, the Pope will meet with the bishops of the Armenian Catholic Church; will take part in the holy liturgy and ecumenical dinner with Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, archbishops and bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Catholic Church and representatives of the papal delegation. Then Pope Francis will meet with delegates and benefactors of the Armenian Church.

The Pope and the Catholicos of All Armenians will sign a joint statement. The two heads of churches will also pray in the monastery of Khor Virap. On the same day the Pope will depart from Yerevan to Rome. -0-