PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CONGRATULATES THE NEW POPE
HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
On the occasion of the election of His Holiness Benedict XVI as Pope of the
Roman Catholic Church, His Holiness Aram I send his congratulations. Here is
the full text:
“His Holiness
Pope Benedict XVI
Vatican.
Your Holiness,
It is with profound spiritual joy that I greet your election as
Bishop of Rome and the Pontiff of the Catholic Church. Long standing
ecumenical collaboration exists between the Armenian Catholicosate of
Cilicia and the Catholic Church. In the last few decades this collaboration
was futher deepened through mutual visits and theological dialogue. I am
sure that during your pontificate a new impetus will be given to our
ecumenical collaboration.
I warmly congratulate your election also as Moderator of the
Central and Executive committees of the World Council of Churches. It is my
firm expectation that the ecumenical collaboration between Vatican and the
World Council of Churches through the Joint Working Group and in different
ways will acquire a renewed importance in the context of our common
engagement for the visible unity of the church.
I look forward for closer collaboration with your Holiness and
with the Catholic Church. May our common Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you
spiritually and physically as you assume this heavy responsibility at a
crucial time in the modern history of humanity.
Yours in Christ,
ARAM I
CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA”
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.