Pope Francis has sent a message of congratulations to the new Armenian Catholic Paticarch of Cilicia, his Beatiude Grégoire Pierre XX Ghabroyan.

In the message Pope Francis expressed hope that his new ministry will bear many fruits, adding that his elections comes at a time when the Armenian church is confronted with various difficulties and challenges, the Vatican Radio reported.

Pope Francis referred to the terrible ordeals that some Armenian Catholics in the Middle East are facing. But he added that “illuminated by the light of faith in the risen Christ, our vision of the world is full of hope and mercy, because we are certain that the Cross of Jesus is the tree that gives life".