His Holiness Pope Francis has arrived to Armenia

At the invitation of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, His Holiness Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II and Catholic Church today His Holiness Pope Francis has arrived to Armenia.

The motto of His Holiness Pope Francis’s visit to the Republic of Armenia is the “Visit to the First Christian Nation”. The logo of the visit depicts Biblical Mount Ararat and the Monastery of Khor Virap – a holy place which had played an exceptional role in the dissemination of Christianity.

The official ceremony of welcoming Pope Francis took place at the Yerevan Zvartnots International Airport. His Holiness was greeted by President Serzh Sargsyan, Mrs. Sargsyan and His Holiness Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II. The official welcoming delegations comprised state officials, diplomats, bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Catholic Church.

At the airport, Pope Francis was greeted also by the Small Singers of Armenia choir which performed medieval Armenian carols. Children dressed in the Armenian national costumes presented to His Holiness Armenian apricot and Armenian lavash which was included on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

After a brief conversation with the President of Armenia and His Holiness Garegin II at the Presidential Lounge of the Zvartnots International Airport, His Holiness left for the Holy See of Etchmiadzin where there will take place a welcoming ceremony for His Holiness Pope Francis.