Pope Francis Arrives in Armenia (LIVE)
Pope Francis has arrived in Yerevan. President Serzh Sargsyan and Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Garegin II welcomed the Pope in the “Zvartnots Armenia” International Airport.
The welcoming ceremony was held by a special protocol. The Pope was welcomed by a children’s choir, and upon arrival was offered the Armenian symbolic apricot and lavash.
A brief conversation will be held with President Sargsyan and Catholicos Garegin II in the Presidential Terminal of the airport. Afterwards Pope Francis will depart to Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, where a welcoming ceremony will be held, followed by the official launch of the state visit.
Afterwards Pope Francis will arrive in the Presidential Palace, where a private meeting with President Serzh Sargsyan will be held. Then, President Sargsyan and Pope Francis will deliver announcements addressed to officials, foreign diplomats and representatives of the society. Then the Pope will return to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiatsin – his official residence during the visit.
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 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.
