Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

 On October 28, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; hosted His Eminence Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for the Secretariat of State of the Holy See; and his delegation, accompanied by Mr. Karen Nazaryan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Vatican; and Archbishop José Avelino Bettencourt, Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See.

Welcoming the visit of the representatives of the Sister Churches to the Armenian Spiritual Center, His Holiness expressed hope that the opening of the Diplomatic Representation of the Holy See in Yerevan will provide new opportunities for cooperation between the Vatican and the Mother See. The Armenian Pontiff affirmed that warm and fraternal relations have been established between the Mother See and the Vatican, as evidenced by the visits of His Holiness Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis to Armenia and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; as well as the event organized on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Holy See, and the proclamation of St. Gregory of Narek as an Ecumenical Archimandrite. His Holiness stressed that the Representation of the Mother See in the Vatican contributes to the further strengthening and deepening of the friendly ties between the two Churches.

At the meeting, the Catholicos of All Armenians expressed gratitude to the Holy See for the support and assistance to Armenia and the Armenian people during the difficult days of the 44-day War of Artsakh and post-war period, as well as for the efforts in the return of the prisoners of war. The Armenian Pontiff also conveyed His fraternal greetings and best wishes to His Holiness Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome. In turn, His Eminence Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for the Secretariat of State of the Holy See; expressing gratitude for the warm reception, conveyed the best wishes of Pope Francis to His Holiness. His Eminence Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra noted that the opening of the Nunciature in Armenia will further strengthen the partnership between the two churches.

During the conversation, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra assured the Armenian Pontiff that the Holy See will continue to contribute to the settlement of the post-war issues, particularly the preservation of the Armenian cultural heritage in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan and the return of the Armenian prisoners of war.