YEREVAN (A.W.)—Pope Francis arrived in Armenia on June 24 at 3 p.m. local time. The pope, who is on his 14th foreign pastoral visit, was greeted at Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport by President Serge Sarkisian, First Lady Rita Sarkisian, and His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. Officials, diplomats, and clergy also welcomed the pope upon his landing. After the “Little Singers of Armenia”—a children’s choir group—sang medieval sharaka
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I am a trustee of the American University of Armenia, having visited Armenia in 1990 in the process of establishing AUA. I had the privilege of visiting Etchmiadzin and the Catholicos at that time. As a Roman Catholic, it gives me great joy and satisfaction to read the words of Pope Francis in reaching out in words of inclusiveness to all Armenians.
We are located in one of the earliest parts of California in the township of YETTEM, California is a church ST. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church in which the town name means the garden of Eden. My grandparents told me and I have seen pictures of the area when it was nothing more than a village and looked like a garden where they grew and raised many of their foods that they ate and would can for the winter for the families. What a blessing is has been for me as a child too see this era of horse and buggy days too men on the moon and my dear GOD only know what else before I should leave this lovely place that I have enjoyed but too go to the home that he will some day have prepared for me to be with all my family once again. I will continue too pray for you Pope Francis as I have seen the great work you have done for the world already. Bless you…..!!!!
As a first generation Armenia whose parents were victims of the Genocide in 1915, I was thankful I am grateful for His Holness’ recognizing the Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire. Unfortunately, the United States has not as yet admitted the horrific act.