Friday, June 17 2016 07:08

 Pope Francis has addressed the faithful asking them to pray for his upcoming pilgrimage to Armenia.

"I ask you to pray for me, who in a few days will go as a pilgrim to an eastern land, Armenia, the first among the Nations to receive the Gospel of Jesus," he said at an audience for the Reunion of Aid Agencies For the Eastern Churches, according to lastampa.it. 

Ahead of Pope Francis' visit, La Stampa interviewed Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. Reflecting on the essence of the Pope's visit to Armenia Cardinal Sandri stated.

"I think this visit is first and foremost a sort of pilgrimage: the Pope's gesture is one of affection and admiration for this ancient Church with its century-old Christian tradition; it is an act of devotion towards this country, the first to adopt Christianity in 301 when St. Gregory the Illuminator led the entire nation to conversion and baptism. The Pope will bring his gratitude and esteem for a people who were moulded by the Christian spirit and managed to protect the precious treasure of faith and their own identity for centuries. This is the spiritual power upon which Armenia can build a future of peace and hope. I also believe this trip will very important for the entire Armenian diaspora, all those men and women living in Europe, the US, South America and many other countries, who are shining examples of the values and human and Christian wealth of this people. Francis' word and blessing will be a great comfort to them and act as a stimulus," Cardinal  Sandi said.  He is certain that Pope Francis' visit will forge even closer ties between the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church, fostering stronger and more fruitful ties of fraternity, friendship and mutual support that will lead to an industrious cooperation in many fields. 

In response to the question if he foresees that Pope Francis and Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians will draft a "Joint Declaration" as St. John Paul II and Karekin II did back in 2001, Cardinal Sandri said: "I presume a Joint Declaration will be drafted on this occasion too, underlining and emphasising the common faith in Christ our Saviour and expressing the intention and willingness to build ever growing fraternal ties between us with the grace of the Lord." 
Asked if Pope Francis' visit will sway the OSCE Minsk Group, the group of mediators who have sought a solution - so far unsuccessfully - to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over who has control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, he said: "I definitely think this visit will be an opportunity to draw attention to and encourage those values that are the backbone of every human community: the rejection of violence, the use of arms that cause immense suffering and the tenacious pursuit of peace through diplomatic means, dialogue, understanding and negotiations. I think that during his visit to Armenia, the first leg of his journey to the Caucasus region (in September Francis will go to Georgia and Azerbaijan), the Pope will send out a strong appeal for peace and a heartfelt invitation to work towards turning the Caucasus into what it already is in geographical terms: a bridge between East and West." 

Pope Francis will start his landmark visit to Armenia on June 24.The Armenian Apostolic Church called on its followers to gather at the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin cathedral to greet the Pope. 

The motto and logo for His Holiness Pope Francis' visit to the Republic of Armenia have been adopted with the corresponding description.  The motto is Visit to the First Christian State.  The logotype for the visit is in the form of a round seal. The Logo depicts the Monastery of Khor Virap with the Biblical Mount Ararat at the background.  Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned in a deep pit in Artashat for 14 years, where later the Monastery of Khor Virap was built. Saint Gregory the Illuminator subsequently became the first Patriarch of the Armenian nation. Through the joint efforts of Saint Gregory and King Tiridates III, Christianity was declared as a state religion in Armenia.  The background colors of the logo are purple and yellow denoting the colors of the official flags of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Roman Catholic Church respectively. The logo depicts also the Coats of Arms of the two Churches.  The surrounding engraving denotes the visit itself - "Pope Francis Armenia June 24-26, 2016" and the motto "Visit to the First Christian State."

On Friday 24 June,  Welcoming Service will be held in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. Saturday 25 June, Divine Liturgy will be offered by Pope Francis in the Vardanants Square of Gyumri. Later on the same day, Ecumenical Service and Peace Prayer is scheduled in the Republic Square of Yerevan, offered by His Holiness Karekin II and Pope Francis. Sunday 26 June, Pontifical Divine Liturgy will be offered in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin at the St. Trdat Open Air Altar, by His Holiness Karekin II.