Pope Francis greets Argentine-Armenian pilgrims and photographs with them at Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. Pope Francis was met by Argentine-Armenian pilgrims singing and chanting joyfully at Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. “Armenpress” reports the Pope approached the group of pilgrims in the yard of the Mother See, photographed with them, blessed them and left.

On June 24 Pope Francis arrived in Armenia on a three-day visit. The Pope was welcomed by President Serzh Sargsyan and His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II in the “Zvartnots” Airport.

A welcoming ceremony took place in Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The Pope has already arrived in the Presidential Palace, where a private meeting with President Serzh Sargsyan is taking place, which will be followed by announcement for Armenian officials, foreign diplomats and representatives of the society.

Pope Francis will visit the Armenian Genocide Memorial on June 25. Later on the same day, a mass will be held in Gyumri’s Vardanants Square. A number of other events are scheduled to take place in Gyumri, after which the Pope will return to Yerevan, where the most important and most open event for the society during his visit will take place in the Republic Square.

A peace prayer will be delivered, which will be preceded and followed by a joint festive concert of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and the State Choir – dedicated to Pope Francis’ visit to Armenia.

In the morning of June 26, a mass will be held in Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, which will be delivered by His Holiness Catholicos Garegin II with Pope Francis.

Several events will be held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, after which Pope Francis and Catholicos Garegin II will visit one of the most important shrines of the Armenian people and the Armenian Apostolic Church – Khor Virap- where they will pray together and release doves towards Ararat. Afterwards the Pope will head to the airport to return to Rome.