CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS CONCLUDES HIS VISIT TO VATICAN

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 13, 2008

VENICE, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
Armenians Karekin II on May 13 concluded his 4-day visit to the head
of the Roman Catholic Church Benedict XVI and returned to the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

During the visit, on the morning of May 7 Karekin II went to the tomb
of Pope John Paul II and prayed for the peace of his soul. Then His
Holiness went to St. Gregory the Illuminator Square in St. Peter’s
yard where a statue of St. Gregory the Illuminator was set up in the
days of Pope John Paul II.

Then a meeting presided by Pope Benedict XVI and Catholicos of All
Armenians Karekin II took place in St. Peter’s Square. They addressed
their words of welcome to more than 35 thousand faithful who had
gathered in the square.

On the same day Catholicos of All Armenians went to the Pontifical
Salesian University where he delivered a lecture. His Holiness received
a doctorate in recognition of his activities in the "theology of
youth pastoral care".

The ceremony was attended by the Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone and the head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity Cardinal Walter Kasper.

On May 8 Karekin II accompanied by the prefect of the Vatican’s
Congregation of Eastern Churches Cardinal Leonardo Sandri went to the
Pontifical Oriental Institute and conveyed his blessing and greetings
to the participants of the congress on "holy sacrifice in the Armenian
tradition". Armenian and Catholic scientists from Europe and North
America made speeches at the congress organized by efforts of Father
Robert Tafti.

Early on May 9, the Armenian delegation went to the Vatican Apostolic
Palace to participate in the meeting of Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II and Pope Benedict XVI. During the meeting, the two leaders
spoke about close links and cooperation between the Armenian Apostolic
Church and the Roman Catholic Church. Then the two church leaders
presided over a short prayer.

At the end of the meeting, Karekin II and Benedict XVI had a private
talk to discuss a number of problems of importance to both churches.

At noon of the same day, Catholicos of All Armenians met with the
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams in the Vatican’s hotel. During
the meeting, Supreme Patriarch and the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke
about the upcoming Lambeth conference of the Anglican Church and the
relations between the sister churches.

At the conclusion of the visit, a ceremony of ecumenical prayer took
place at the tomb of Apostle Paul. Bishops and clergymen of the Roman
Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church took part in the
prayer presided over by Catholicos of All Armenians.

Accordng to the infomation service of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin, during the official visit, Karekin II and the Armenian
delegation visited Armenian and Catholic churches and sacred places.

Early May 10 Catholicos of All Armenians accompanied by high-ranking
clergymen left for Milan where His Holiness met with the Armenian
community.

On May 11-12 Catholicos of All Armenians was in Venice, in the island
of San Lazzaro where a meeting with the Mechitarist Congregation
was held.