YEREVAN. – The Gyumri residents, who are preparing for the Pope Francis’ visit, on Thursday said: “This is a historic event. It’s something like a holiday that the Pope of Rome will visit Gyumri,” according to Zhamanak newspaper.

The newspaper also asked Gyumri Mayor Samvel Balasanyan how much money was spent from the city budget, for the respective preparatory work.

“Nothing was spent from the city budget,” he responded. “We will only do fireworks; we will spend money on that and on some small attributes. The stage [on which the Pope will offer a Holy Mass] and the remaining equipment and activities are carried out with funding by the Catholic Church. And we have cleaned up the city.”