On a visit to Armenia Pope Francis visited the Memorial to the Armenian Genocide (Tsitsernakaberd) victims early on Saturday morning.
The Bishop of Rome arrived to Tsitsernakaberd accompanied by Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and the First Lady Rita Sargsyan met the motorcade of the Holy Father at the Memorial Complex.
Armenian News –NEWS.am presents events of the day.
- The pontiff prayed near the Memorial, then approached the eternal flame and laid white roses.
- The heads of the two churches offered prayers in memory of 1.5 million Armenians, who died as a result of the Genocide organized by the Turkish authorities in the Ottoman Empire.
- The sounds of Armenian duduk were heard during Pope Francis’ visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial. Duduk masters Djivan Gasparyan, Gevorg Dabaghyan, and Kamo Seyranyan performed near the Eternal Flame.
- Pope Francis planted a fir tree at the Memory Alley.
- Pope Francis wrote a message in the honorary guestbook of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute: May God preserve the memory of the Armenian people.
- The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute presented a gold commemorative medal, which depicts the Armenian Genocide Memorial and also one of the engraved series, on a special paper several years ago, devoted to the [Armenian church on] Akhtamar [Island on Turkey’s Lake Van],” to Pope Francis.
- At the territory of the complex the pontiff met descendants of the victims of Armenian Genocide.
- Armenian Genocide historian Verjiné Svazlian presented her book to Pope Francis. Pope Francis, in turn, gave a cross to Verjiné Svazlian, as a gift.
- From the Armenian Genocide Memorial, Pope Francis and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II headed off to Gyumri.
- Children of the kindergarten of Mikhayilovka village in Armenia’s Tavush Province came to the Holy Mass, wearing a papal outfit.
- The Pope offered a Holy Mass at the presence of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II at Vardanants Square of Gyumri.
- Catholicos Karekin II: Pope's visit to Gyumri is a spiritual renewal for the faithful of Shirak.
- Pope Francis recalls the earthquake of 1988: The destroyed city rose from the ruins.
- Holy Father: We need societies of greater justice .
- The pontiff and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II toured the square by popemobile, blessing the audience.
- After offering a Holy Mass at Vardanants Square of Gyumri Pope Francis talked to the faithful.
- Pope Francis visited Our Lady of Armenia convent.
- Pope Francis signed on the badge of Gyumri’s educational center worker.
- Pope visited the Seven Wounds of the Holy Mother of God Cathedral and the Armenian Catholic Cathedral in the city of Gyumri.
- Children with disabilities gave Pope crown of thorns they had woven.
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Pope Francis and Karekin II held an ecumenical ceremony in the Republic Square of Yerevan. The bells of the capital's all churches tolled to marked about its start. A model Noah's ark has been handed to the Pontiff as a gift.
- Spiritual leaders prayed for peace.
- Karekin II: More practical steps must be taken on road to searching for peace. (photos)
- Pope Francis wised to Armenia normalization of relations with Turkey and peace in Karabakh.
- Leaving the Republic Square, Pope Francis kissed and blessed the people with disabilities who had attended the prayer.
- Chronicle of events: Pope visits Armenia
