«Just as on Easter morning the Apostles, for all their hesitations and uncertainties, ran towards the place of the Resurrection, drawn by the blessed dawn of new hope (cf. Jn 20:3-4), so too on this holy Sunday may we follow God’s call to full communion and hasten towards it.»
Pope Francis said this following the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy he participated in this morning in the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral. The Holy Father gave an address following that of Catholicos of all Armenians, Karekin II.
The Holy Father had begun his final day of his 14th Apostolic Visit abroad in Armenia, July 24-26, with a private Mass in a chapel prepared for the occasion in the Apostolic Palace of Etchmiadzin, where the Holy Father has been residing during his pastoral visit to the nation. Armenia was the first nation ever to adopt Christianity as the state religion. After the Mass, Francis privately met with Armenia’s 14 Catholic bishops and 12 priests before heading to the liturgical celebration.
In his address, the Pope noted this visit to Armenia was greatly desired and is one»already unforgettable» for him. He thanked His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and said they have met «as brothers.»
One Beating Heart
«We have felt as one her beating heart, and we believe and experience that the Church is one,» he said. «Our meeting comes under the aegis of the holy Apostles whom we have encountered. Saints Bartholomew and Thaddeus, who first proclaimed the Gospel in these lands, and Saints Peter and Paul who gave their lives for the Lord in Rome and now reign with Christ in heaven, surely rejoice to see our affection and our tangible longing for full communion.
For all this, Francis expressed, saying, «I thank the Lord, for you and with you: Park astutsò! (Glory to God!).»
«May the Armenian Church walk in peace and may the communion between us be complete,» he said, » May an ardent desire for unity rise up in our hearts, a unity that must not be ‘the submission of one to the other, or assimilation, but rather the acceptance of all the gifts that God has given to each.'»
Achieving this, Francis pointed out, will show the entire world the great mystery of salvation accomplished by Christ.
Let us …
«Let us respond to the appeal of the saints, let us listen to the voices of the humble and poor, of the many victims of hatred who suffered and gave their lives for the faith. Let us pay heed to the younger generation, who seek a future free of past divisions,» he said. «From this holy place may a radiant light shine forth once more, and to the light of faith, which has illumined these lands from the time of Saint Gregory, your Father in the Gospel, may there be joined the light of the love that forgives and reconciles.»
Before concluding, Pope Francis asked His Holiness Karekin II to bless him and the Catholic Church, as well as their path together toward full unity.
After the Liturgical Celebration, the Pontiff had an ecumenical lunch with the Catholicos, archbishops and bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Catholic bishops, and the cardinals and bishops of the papal entourage in the Apostolic Palace before partaking in the rest of the final day’s events.
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On Zenit’s Webpage
Pope’s Address at Conclusion of Divine Liturgy in Armenian Apostolic Cathedral: https://zenit.org/articles/popes-greeting-at-conclusion-of-divine-liturgy-in-armenian-apostolic-cathedral/
Message of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos Of All Armenians, During Divine Liturgy: https://zenit.org/articles/message-of-his-holiness-karekin-ii-catholicos-of-all-armenians-during-divine-liturgy/
