Pope accepts invitation to visit Armenia in 2015

YEREVAN, September 19. / ARKA /. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who is on an official visit to the Vatican, has invited Pope Francis to visit Armenia in 2015, Sargsyan’s press service reported saying also that the head of the Roman Catholic Church gladly accepted the invitation.

"The Armenian President and His Holiness noted with satisfaction the high level of cooperation between the Holy See and Armenia, stressing that these relations have a solid foundation and go back to the common Christian values and ideology,"  said the press service in a statement. 

The two sides were said also to have stressed the importance of frequented mutual visits and contacts at the highest level. The parties also exchanged views on cooperation between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Roman Catholic Church. 

Then, the President of Armenia met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolini. The two men discussed the current level of cooperation between Armenia and the Vatican, as well as the prospects for its development. The two men noted with satisfaction that in recent years these relations have been developing rapidly and on a variety of platforms. 

During the meeting, they also discussed the urgent issues related to Christians and the Christian heritage of the Middle East. Sargsyan said Armenia is ready  to join the work being done in this direction. 

They also touched upon the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue. The President expressed his gratitude to Cardinal Parolini for balanced position of the Holy See on the Karabakh issue. 

During the visit, Sargsyan met also with the Cardinals of the Roman Curia - the chief administrative authority of the Holy See. -0