Pope Francis’ Mass begins in Gyumri
YEREVAN, JUNE 25, ARMENPRESS. The Holy Mass delivered by Pope Francis is beginning in Gyumri’s Vardanants Square. His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, Catholicos-Patriarch Father Grigor Bishop Kaproyan of the Armenian Catholic Church and leader of the Armenian Catholics Rafayel Archbishop Minasyan will also take part in the mass.
Afterwards Pope Francis will visit the Our Lady of Armenia Convent, the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God and Holy Martyrs Catholic Church.
On June 24 Pope Francis arrived in Armenia on a three day visit. The Pope was welcomed in the Zvartnots airport by President Serzh Sargsyan, First Lady Mrs. Rita Sargsyan and His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II. A welcoming ceremony was held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiatsin.
Afterwards Pope Francis arrived in the Presidential Palace, where he had a private meeting with President Serzh Sargsyan. Pope Francis and President Sargsyan later delivered announcements during a meeting with officials, foreign diplomats and representatives of the society.
Pope Francis visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial in early morning of June 25.
During the day 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 Etchmiatsin, which will be delivered by His Holiness Catholicos Garegin II with Pope Francis.
Several events will be held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiatsin, 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.
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A number of other events will be held at the Mother See, after which Pope Francis and Catholicos Karekin 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. - Pope Francis says ‘never again’ – reaction of international media on Pope’s visit to Genocide
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