His Holiness Karekin II Receives Mr. Jean-Noлl Guйrini, President of the General Council of Bouches du Rhфne
On February 12, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received Mr. Jean-Noлl Guйrini of France, Senator, and President of the General Council of Bouches du Rhфne region, and the delegation accompanying him. His Grace Bishop Daron Jerejian, Vicar to the Pontifical Legate of Eastern Europe, was among the French delegation.
His Holiness and Mr. Jean-Noлl Guйrini cordially recalled their first meeting in Marseilles last year, which according to Mr. Guйrini, served as the primary incentive for the French delegation's visit to Armenia and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Addressing His Holiness, Mr. Guйrini said, "We remember discussing the Genocide of the Armenians together in Marseilles. I resolved to come to Armenia and visit you as a result of that meeting".
In the course of the meeting, Mr. Guйrini, stated his willingness to support Armenia, as well as the Armenian Church. He noted that he would personally make every effort to contribute to the reconstruction of the Armenian Church of Marseilles.
His Holiness Karekin II expressed his fatherly love and gratitude towards the French people and nation for their kindness towards the Armenians residing in France. His Holiness expressed his deep appreciation, on behalf of the Armenian people, to Mr. Guйrini as a representative of his nation, for France's formal recognition of the Armenian Genocide. His Holiness stated, "During this period of Great Lent, we are all called to examine our lives and alter them for the better. Your visit here to the Mother See of the Armenian Nation gives us the opportunity to once again state our appreciation and commendation to a country which supports the remembrance of the Armenian Genocide, and in so doing, we pray for an increase in introspection and care in the realm of world affairs."
At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Guйrini thanked His Holiness for the audience. He promised to return to Armenia and again visit the Mother See.
