YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador of Armenia to the Holy See Michael Minasyan is participating with positive emotions in the welcoming ceremony of Pope Francis in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiatsin.

To ARMENPRESS’ question “What is the message of the Armenian people to the world with this visit”, the Ambassador answered: “We exist, we are happy and proud of our country”.

On June 24 Pope Francis arrived in Armenia on a three-day visit. The Pope was welcomed by President Serzh Sargsyan and His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II in the “Zvartnots” Airport.

A welcoming ceremony took place in Mother See of Holy Etchmiatsin. The Pope is scheduled to arrive in the Presidential Palace, where a private meeting with President Serzh Sargsyan is due to take place, followed by announcements for Armenian officials, foreign diplomats and representatives of the society.

Pope Francis will visit the Armenian Genocide Memorial on June 25. Later on the same day, a mass will be held in Gyumri’s Vardanants Square. A number of other events are scheduled to take place in Gyumri, after which the Pope will return to Yerevan, where the most important and most open event for the society during his visit will take place in the Republic Square.

A peace prayer will be delivered, which will be preceded and followed by a joint festive concert of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and the State Choir – dedicated to Pope Francis’ visit to Armenia.

In the morning of June 26, a mass will be held in Mother See of Holy Etchmiatsin, which will be delivered by His Holiness Catholicos Garegin II with Pope Francis.

Several events will be held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiatsin, after which Pope Francis and Catholicos Garegin II will visit one of the most important shrines of the Armenian people and the Armenian Apostolic Church – Khor Virap- where they will pray together and release doves towards Ararat. Afterwards the Pope will head to the airport to return to Rome.