Pope Francis celebrates Mass in Gyumri
25.06.2016,
20:04
On the second day of his pastoral trip to Armenia Pope Francis celebrated Mass in Vartanants Square in Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest town and home to the largest community of Armenian Catholics, with the Ordinary of Eastern Europe for Armenian Catholics, Archbishop Raphael Minassian, and in the presence of the Catholicos of all Armenians, Karekin II.
YEREVAN, June 25. /ARKA/. On the second day of his pastoral trip to Armenia Pope Francis celebrated Mass in Vartanants Square in Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest town and home to the largest community of Armenian Catholics, with the Ordinary of Eastern Europe for Armenian Catholics, Archbishop Raphael Minassian, and in the presence of the Catholicos of all Armenians, Karekin II.
Gyumri, once known both as an industrial center and a major cultural hub, was badly damaged in the massive 1988 earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people.
Catholicos Karekin welcomed the Holy Father warmly, explaining, “Gyumri is one of those historical towns of Armenia where centuries-old Armenian Christian values have flourished,” and introducing the people of Gyumri as, “bearers of a beautiful tradition of Christian brotherly coexistence.”
In his homily, the Holy Father recalled the devastation, giving thanks “for all that has been rebuilt.”
Following celebration of Holy Mass in Vardanants Square on Saturday morning, Pope Francis visited the convent and orphanage of Our lady of Armenia - Boghossian Education Centre for lunch with around 60 hungry youngsters.
The orphanage is run by the Congregation of the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, who also run the Tiramyer Vocational School and a day-care center housed on the same campus.
Pope Francis’s schedule included a visit to the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral and to the Armenian Catholic Cathedral in the city of Gyumri. After the lunch at the convent, the Pope travelled to the airport to board the plane taking him back to Yerevan for an event featuring an Ecumenical Encounter and a Prayer for Peace in the capital city’s Republic Square. -0-
Gyumri, once known both as an industrial center and a major cultural hub, was badly damaged in the massive 1988 earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people.
Catholicos Karekin welcomed the Holy Father warmly, explaining, “Gyumri is one of those historical towns of Armenia where centuries-old Armenian Christian values have flourished,” and introducing the people of Gyumri as, “bearers of a beautiful tradition of Christian brotherly coexistence.”
In his homily, the Holy Father recalled the devastation, giving thanks “for all that has been rebuilt.”
Following celebration of Holy Mass in Vardanants Square on Saturday morning, Pope Francis visited the convent and orphanage of Our lady of Armenia - Boghossian Education Centre for lunch with around 60 hungry youngsters.
The orphanage is run by the Congregation of the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, who also run the Tiramyer Vocational School and a day-care center housed on the same campus.
Pope Francis’s schedule included a visit to the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral and to the Armenian Catholic Cathedral in the city of Gyumri. After the lunch at the convent, the Pope travelled to the airport to board the plane taking him back to Yerevan for an event featuring an Ecumenical Encounter and a Prayer for Peace in the capital city’s Republic Square. -0-
