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: cathcil@cathcil.org
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

&quo t;CARDINAL WILLEBRANDS HAS BEEN
AN OUTSTANDING ECUMENICAL FIGURE"
Said His Holiness Aram I

In a letter addressed to the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for promoting
Christian Unity, His Holiness Aram I expressing his great sorrow for the
passing away of the Cardinal Willebrands, said: "The Cardinal has played a
significant role in the ecumenical movement by promoting the spirit of the
Council Vatican II, and by giving a concrete manifestation to the
committment of the Roman Cathoclic Church to the ecumenical goals and the
visible unity of the Church".

Speaking about the relations with the Armenian Church, and his several
visits to Antelias, the headquarters of the Armenian Catholicosate of
Cilicia, Catholicos Aram I has discribed him "as a great friend of the
Armenian Church and people".

Born in the Netherlands, in 1909, Cardinal Johannes Gerardus Maria
Willebrands has received holy orders in May 1934. He has become bishop in
1964 and Cardinal in 1969. From 1969-1989 he has served as president of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Cardinal Willebrands has
been the Archbishop of Utrecht, from 1965-1983.

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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.