Pope meets Armenia’s president, focus on country’s Christian heritage
The two sides are happy about the good relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Armenia. President Sargsyan gives Benedict XVI a sculpture depicting an event connected with the Armenian genocide, “a moving story”.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Armenia’s Christian heritage and good relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Armenia marked the meeting, this morning, in the Vatican between Benedict XVI and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.
The pope and the president, who came with a ten-member delegation, held a 15-minute private talk, with an interpreter. Afterwards, the two men exchanged gifts. President Sargsyan gave Pope Benedict XVI a small sculpture depicting two women hiding a manuscript connected with the Armenian genocide. “A moving story,” the pontiff said in English, after hearing the president describe the event. Benedict XVI gave the Armenian leader pontifical medals. As he left, the Armenian president said he was “very glad” for the meeting, “a memorable day,” he added.
For its part, the Vatican Press Office in a press statement said, “In the course of the cordial discussions, and having expressed great pleasure at the good relations that exist between the Holy See and the Republic of Armenia, the parties exchanged views on the role that the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church play in society, and the contribution they both make to the common good. Attention also turned to the importance of the country's Christian heritage, and of the commitment to educating the new generations in fundamental values.”
After his visit to the Vatican, the Armenian president, accompanied by Foreign Minister Edward Nalbadian, met Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. who was accompanied by Undersecretary for Relations with States Mgr Ettore Balestrero.
The pope and the president, who came with a ten-member delegation, held a 15-minute private talk, with an interpreter. Afterwards, the two men exchanged gifts. President Sargsyan gave Pope Benedict XVI a small sculpture depicting two women hiding a manuscript connected with the Armenian genocide. “A moving story,” the pontiff said in English, after hearing the president describe the event. Benedict XVI gave the Armenian leader pontifical medals. As he left, the Armenian president said he was “very glad” for the meeting, “a memorable day,” he added.
For its part, the Vatican Press Office in a press statement said, “In the course of the cordial discussions, and having expressed great pleasure at the good relations that exist between the Holy See and the Republic of Armenia, the parties exchanged views on the role that the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church play in society, and the contribution they both make to the common good. Attention also turned to the importance of the country's Christian heritage, and of the commitment to educating the new generations in fundamental values.”
After his visit to the Vatican, the Armenian president, accompanied by Foreign Minister Edward Nalbadian, met Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. who was accompanied by Undersecretary for Relations with States Mgr Ettore Balestrero.
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