President Serzh Sargsyan meets Pope Francis in Vatican

On his official visit to the Holy See President Serzh Sargsyan today held a private meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis.

The Armenian President and His Holiness praised the high level of relations between Armenia and Vatican and underscored that they are firmly based on the common Christian value system and the ideology. The interlocutors attached importance to the high-level reciprocal visits and contacts intensified in recent years which is a testimony of the mutual commitment to staying focused on their bilateral relations. Serzh Sargsyan and His Holiness exchanged opinions on the close cooperation between Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Catholic Church. At the meeting the president officially invited the Supreme Pontiff to visit Armenia in 2015. The Supreme Pontiff accepted the invitation with pleasure and assured that his heart wishes to visit Armenia.

Afterwards, President Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting with the Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The interlocutors discussed the present state of the relations between Armenia and Vatican and their prospect. The parties stated with satisfaction that in recent times those multidimensional relations have been developing rapidly.

At the meeting the parties discussed contemporary issues pertaining to Christian people and Christian heritage in the Middle East. President Serzh Sargsyan expressed readiness to be involved in activities aimed at dealing with these issues.

Issues concerning the peaceful resolution of the NKR conflict were also touched upon. President Serzh Sargsyan expressed his gratitude to Cardinal Pietro Parolin for the Holy See’s balanced position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

On his visit Serzh Sargsyan today also held a meeting with the cardinals of the Roman Curia (administrative apparatus of the Holy See).