Pope Benedict’s wishes Armenian church head on 10th anniversary of election
(October 27, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI has sent good wishes to Catholicos Karekin II,
the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church on the 10th anniversary of his
election. In a message on Tuesday, Pope Benedict commended Karekin II for his personal
commitment to dialogue, cooperation and friendship between the Armenian Apostolic
Church and the Catholic Church, which, he said was clearly expressed by the various
meetings that have taken place recently between him and the Pope of Rome. “I pray
that the good relations that have been established between us may continue to grow
in the years ahead,” Pope Benedict wrote in the message. The relation of Catholicos
Karekin II with Rome has been generally positive. Pope John Paul II stayed with the
Catholicos when he visited Armenia in 2001. In his message, Pope Benedict noted that
in the short time since regaining freedom from Soviet rule at the end of last century,
the Armenian Apostolic Church under Karekin II has made remarkable achievements.
He noted that new initiatives have flourished for the Christian education of the young,
for the training of clergy, the creation of new parishes, the building of new churches
and community centres, as well as the promotion of Christian values in the social
and cultural life of the nation. One of the oriental Orthodox churches, the Armenian
Apostolic Church, which is not in communion with the Pope of Rome, is one of the world's
most ancient Christian communities, tracing back its origins to the Apostles Bartholomew
and Thaddeus in the 1st century. Today, the Armenian Church diaspora is present in
over 20 countries of the world.