Pope Francis builds on ecumenical progress with Armenians
In a country that is more than 90-per-cent Orthodox, the biggest event in Armenia this year will be a three-day visit by Pope Francis, Michael Swan writes in The Catholic Register.
“In the poor, isolated country wedged in between Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan, the Roman pontiff is seen as anything but a threat to the country’s ancient Christian heritage and identity,” the author writes.
According to the author, most media attention during the June 24 to 26 visit is expected to fall on the Pope’s visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex and Museum in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital.
“However, at least as significant will be the demonstration of ecumenical progress between Catholics and the Armenian Apostolic Church at the same time as almost all the patriarchs of the Orthodox world are gathered in Crete for the largest council in Orthodox history.
“While most of the Eastern Christian world is working out agreements and disagreements on questions of mission, marriage, ecumenism and the autonomy of churches, Pope Francis and Armenian Patriarch and Catholicos His Holiness Karekin II will demonstrate a degree of ecumenical communion between Catholics and the Armenian Apostolic Church that is almost complete,” reads the article.