Our peoples have a strong faith in Christ, proven with our actions daily

An official dinner was held in the evening of October 11, on the official visit of the President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian to the Holy See and in honour of the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Welcoming President Sarkissian’s official visit, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to the Holy See Karen Nazaryan praised the attitude of Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolin towards Armenia, the Armenian people, and their role in the development of interstate relations between Armenia and the Vatican.

In his speech, the Ambassador of Armenia particularly noted. "We are most grateful to have the joy of being together tonight to celebrate the opening of a new page in the relations between Yerevan and the Vatican, marked by the official visit of the President of Armenia.

Mr. President, you know better than anyone else in our country that almost for thirty years, the history of diplomatic ties between Armenia and the Holy See have been characterized by the high-level political dialogue, and that dialogue has always been the centre of mutual care. We thank you for your personal role then as Armenia’s first envoy to the Apostolic Palace, and also today in continuously nurturing our bilateral agenda.”

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, was awarded the State Award of the Order of Honour by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia for his significant contribution to the development of interstate relations and the strengthening of friendly ties between Armenia and the Vatican.

Presenting the high state award, President Sarkissian congratulated Secretary of State Parolin and said: "There are two things that come together very harmoniously. One is the relations between the two states, in this case, the relations between the Vatican and Armenia; the relation between two nations: the Armenians and Catholics, and the relation between two faiths, which is basically one, the faith in Christ. There are things that are very much in common between us. As states, we are early Christians. Both our countries are small, but we are global nations. The Vatican is a small state but a global nation, represented by Catholics around the world. Armenia is a small country, but it has a world of Armenians all over the Diaspora. Among other common things that we share is our strong faith in Christ, and that faith is exercised not only every day but has been proven with our actions daily.

During those several years that you have been Secretary of State of the Holy See, we have felt the support of the Vatican and the Catholic Church to Armenia. Thank you. Let us remember that the Holy Father visited Armenia more than five years ago. It was a historical visit for Armenia, all Armenians, and the whole Christian world. The Holy Father visited a country that was the first to adopt Christianity as a state religion.

Last year, we were in need. The whole world was in that situation due to the pandemic, but Armenia especially needed support because of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh imposed on us by Azerbaijan and Turkey. The support we got from the Holy Father and the Vatican, the Secretary of State and your colleagues is highly appreciated. I am happy that we will have a delegation from the Vatican to Armenia soon, and we will all in Armenia be happily celebrating the opening of the Apostolic Diocese of the Holy See in Yerevan. That will be another step towards making our relations even closer.

I would like to thank the Holy Father once again. He has a special place and role for all Armenians worldwide, who were moved and prayed when the Holy Father paid tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Vatican in 2015.

Our 30-year partnership is based on our 2,000-year relationship, and today we know how to manage adversity and, which is the most important, to really move forward to succeed.

I hope that you will soon visit Armenia, and I will be honoured not only to host you but also with great pleasure, show you the country that was the first to become Christian. Our country is the first to learn to love and appreciate friendship."

Cardinal Parolin thanked the President of Armenia for the warm words, extending his "most cordial words confirming the support of the Holy See to Armenia, which is known as the first country to have officially adopted Christianity." "I am glad to see how the seeds of the Christian faith, sown by St. Gregory the Illuminator, have developed and turned into ripe fruits. Pope Francis has recently added the commemoration of St. Gregory Narekatsi to the Main Roman Calendar, said the Cardinal. The Christian origin of Armenia continues to be the cornerstone, around which societies develop, and based on which, they acknowledge identity.

The Christian faith has become the guarantee of the rebirth of your people even in the most tragic moments of the history of Armenia. Many areas of our relations are connected with the respectful dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church, which was once again expressed during the recent meeting between Pope Francis and Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.

Mr. President, I thank you very much for this visit, being sure that it will have many positive developments in our relations.

May your noble people enjoy peace, overcoming the recent challenges.”