Catholicos of All Armenians Received Head of the Vatican’s Secret Archives and Library
30.05.2017
On May 30, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; received Archbishop Jean-Louis Bruguès, Archivist of the Vatican Secret Archives and Librarian of the Vatican Library, and his delegation. They were accompanied by Mr. Mikayel Minasyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Vatican.
The Catholicos of All Armenians conveyed his blessings and appreciation to the delegation members for their visit to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness reflected on the warm ties and cooperation between the Armenian Church and Catholic Church, mentioning the visits of Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis to Armenia and Holy Etchmiadzin as vivid evidence.
His Holiness expressed his gratification for the release and publication of valuable documents on the Armenian Genocide by the Secret Archives and the Vatican Library. He stressed that in addition to providing documents for scientific study, the release of documents made an important contribution by the Vatican to the universal recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide. His Holiness expressed his personal appreciation to Professor Father Georges H. Ruyssen, Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute of the Roman Catholic Church; and the members of his research team, through whose efforts were published the voluminous book on Historical documents of the Armenian Genocide.
During the meeting, the Catholicos of All Armenians also spoke about the study opportunities for members of the Brotherhood of Mother See, in the higher education institutions of the Catholic Church, noting that it was part of the cooperative efforts between the two churches.
Archbishop Jean Louis expressed joy on the occasion of his visit to Armenia, stressing that during his service in France, he had many opportunities to know the Armenian people and become acquainted with its history and culture.
During the meeting, they reflected on the spiritual educational mission and the clergy preparation of the Mother See.
At the conclusion, His Holiness conveyed his warm fraternal greetings to Pope Francis, expressing his wish that God keep the Catholic Church, its clergy and faithful strong.
The meeting was attended His Eminence Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Director of the External Relations and Protocol Department of the Mother See; Very Rev. Fr. Shahe Ananyan, Director of Ecumenical Relations of the Mother See; and Rev. Fr. Asoghik Karapetyan, Director of Archives and Museums of the Mother See.
On the same day, Archbishop Jean Louis delivered a lecture on “Armenian Treasures in the Secret Archives and Library of the Vatican”.
