Yerevan, Armenia, Jun 26, 2016 / 01:58 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis reiterated his desire for full communion with the Armenian Apostolic Church during its divine liturgy on Sunday, the final major event of his three-day visit to the Caucasus nation. Delivering his address after the homily of Catholicos Karekin II, who presided over the liturgy, the Pope also asked the supreme leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church to bless him, the Catholic Church, and “this our path towards full unity.” “We have met, we have embraced as brothers, we have prayed together and shared the gifts, hopes and concerns of the Church of Christ,” the pontiff said. “We have felt as one her beating heart, and we believe and experience that the Church is one.” “May the Armenian Church walk in peace and may the communion between us be complete.”   Pope Francis attended the June 26 divine liturgy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, after privately celebrating Mass in the morning. The liturgy was held out of doors in the Saint Tiridates square of the Etchmiadzin Apostolic Palace. The meeting between the Pope and Karekin, Francis said, was under the auspices of the apostles – Bartholomew and Thaddeus, “who first proclaimed the Gospel” in Armenia, and “Saints Peter and Paul who gave their lives for the Lord in Rome and now reign with Christ in heaven, surely rejoice to see our affection and our tangible longing for full communion.” “For all this, I thank the Lord, for you and with you: Park astutsò! (Glory to God!).” The Pope referenced the prayers of the day's liturgy, such as the solemn Trisagion chant, and the invocation of the Holy Spirit. “May abundant blessings of the Most High fill the earth through the intercession of the Mother of God, the great saints and doctors, the martyrs, especially the many whom you canonized last year in this place,” he said. Citing the words of St. Gregory of Narek, he went on to pray to the Holy Spirit for unity, especially “among Christ’s disciples.” “May the Armenian Church walk in peace and may the communion between us be complete,” he said. Francis added that this unity should not be one of submission or assimilation, “but rather the acceptance of all the gifts that God has given to each.” “Let us respond to the appeal of the saints, let us listen to the voices of the humble and poor, of the many victims of hatred who suffered and gave their lives for the faith,” Pope Francis said. “Let us pay heed to the younger generation, who seek a future free of past divisions.” Just as the Apostles rushed toward the place of Jesus' resurrection on Easter, despite their “hesitations and uncertainties,” the Pope said, “so too on this holy Sunday may we follow God’s call to full communion and hasten towards it.” Pope Francis concluded by asking Karekin to bless him, to bless the Catholic Church, and “to bless this our path towards full unity.” Earlier, in his homily for the divine liturgy, Catholicos Karekin II expressed his gratitude for Pope Francis' “brotherly visit” to Armenia. The three-day visit with “our spiritual brother, Pope Francis,” he said, “reconfirmed that the Holy Church of Christ is one in the spreading of the gospel of Christ in the world.” This includes caring for creation, “standing against common problems, and in the vital mission of the salvation of man who is the crown and glory of God’s creation.” Karekin II also spoke on the challenges faced today against the faith, such as secularism, the distortion of spiritual and ethical values, and the shaking of the family structure. Temptations against faith in God occur both amid hardships and amid “times of wealth and lavishness, when they are disengaged with the concerns of those who long for daily bread and are in pain and suffering,” he said. “Faith is put to the test by extremism and other kinds of ideologies; xenophobia, addictions, passions and self-centred profits.” “The root of evil in modern life is in trying to build a world without God, to construe the laws and commandments of God which bring forward economic, political, social, environmental and other problems, that day by day deepen and threaten the natural way of life.” Catholicos Karekin concluded his homily reiterating his appreciation for Pope Francis' visit. “We and our people will always pray for you, beloved brother, and for your efforts made towards peace and prosperity of humanity and towards the advancement of the Church of Christ,” he said. “May God give you strength, bless and keep firm our Churches in love and collaboration and may He grant us new opportunities for witness of brotherhood.” Pope Francis' June 24-26 to Armenia was organized following the invitation of Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II, the nation's civil authorities, and the Catholic Church. Read more

Yerevan, Jun 25, 2016 / 10:56 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Working toward full communion is a project of love, humility and peace, Pope Francis told Armenian Orthodox leaders gathered at an ecumenical meeting on Saturday. “With great joy, we are walking... Read more

Gyumri, Armenia, Jun 25, 2016 / 03:40 am (CNA/EWTN News).- During the first major Mass of his three-day visit to Armenia, Pope Francis said faith is not a thing of the past, like an artifact in a museum. Rather, it is kept alive through continuous encounters with Christ. Faith “is born and reborn from a life-giving encounter with Jesus, from experiencing how his mercy illumines every situation in our lives,” the Pope said during his June 25 homily in the northwestern city of Gyurmi. The pontiff warned against the temptation to reduce faith to something that belongs in the past, as if it “were a beautiful illuminated book to be kept in a museum.” “Once it is locked up in the archives of history, faith loses its power to transform, its living beauty, its positive openness to all,” he said. The Pope acknowledged the faith of the people of Armenia, the first country to embrace Christianity, and the site of a bloody persecution against Christians 100 years ago. “He has remembered your faithfulness to the Gospel, the first-fruits of your faith, and all those who testified, even at the price of their blood, that God’s love is more precious than life itself,” he said. Pope Francis delivered his homily during Mass at Vartanants Square in Gyumri, the main event of his second day in the country. The city had recently been largely rebuilt after a 1988 earthquake devastated the region, and killed tens of thousands of people. Pope Francis made reference to the earthquake in his homily, in which he spoke on the theme of rebuilding. “Yet we might also wonder: what is the Lord asking us to build today in our lives, and even more importantly, upon what is he calling us to build our lives?” Drawing on this theme of rebuilding, the Pope challenged the faithful to consider not only what God wants them to build in their lives, but the foundation upon which they should build. The pontiff suggested three ways of building a solid foundation: memory, faith, and merciful love. Memory is recalling “what the Lord has done in and for us,” that “God has chosen us, loved us, called us and forgiven us,” Pope Francis said. “Great things have happened in our personal love story with him, and these must be treasured in our minds and hearts.” The Pope also spoke about the importance of preserving the “memory of a people.” “Your own people’s memory is ancient and precious. Your voices echo those of past sages and saints; your words evoke those who created your alphabet in order to proclaim God’s word; your songs blend the afflictions and the joys of your history.” “As you ponder these things, you can clearly recognize God’s presence. He has not abandoned you. Even in the face of tremendous adversity, we can say in the words of today’s Gospel that the Lord has visited your people.” “He has remembered your faithfulness to the Gospel, the first-fruits of your faith, and all those who testified, even at the price of their blood, that God’s love is more precious than life itself.” The second way of building a foundation is with faith, Pope Francis said. He addressed the danger of reducing faith to something that belongs in the past, as if it “were a beautiful illuminated book to be kept in a museum.” “Once it is locked up in the archives of history, faith loses its power to transform, its living beauty, its positive openness to all,” he warned. Rather, faith “is born and reborn from a life-giving encounter with Jesus, from experiencing how his mercy illumines every situation in our lives,” the Pope said, which should be renewed daily by reading God's word and praying silently “to open our hearts to his love.” “We would do well to let our encounter with the Lord’s tenderness enkindle joy in our hearts: a joy greater than sadness, a joy that even withstands pain and in turn becomes peace.” Francis challenged the faithful, especially young people, to respond when “Jesus calls us to follow him more closely, to give our lives to him and to our brothers and sisters.” “Do not be afraid; tell him 'Yes!' He knows us, he really loves us, and he wants to free our hearts from the burden of fear and pride,” the Pope said. “By making room for him, we become capable of radiating his love.” “Thus you will be able to carry on your great history of evangelization. This is something the Church and the world need in these troubled times, which are also a time of mercy.” The third and final way of building a foundation is to foster “merciful love” towards neighbor, the Pope said. “Concrete love is the Christian’s visiting card,” the pontiff said; “any other way of presenting ourselves could be misleading and even unhelpful, for it is by our love for one another that everyone will know that we are his disciples.” “We are called above all to build and rebuild paths of communion, tirelessly creating bridges of unity and working to overcome our divisions.” Pope Francis cited the first reading from Isaiah during the day's Mass, which reminds the faithful how “the Spirit of the Lord is always with those who carry glad tidings to the poor, who bind up the brokenhearted and console the afflicted.” “God dwells in the hearts of those who love him. God dwells wherever there is love, shown especially by courageous and compassionate care for the weak and the poor.” “How much we need this! We need Christians who do not allow themselves to be overcome by weariness or discouraged by adversity, but instead are available, open and ready to serve.” He called on people of good will to help others with not only words but also actions, and stressed the need for more just societies “where each individual can lead a dignified life and, above all, be fairly remunerated for his or her work.” St. Gregory of Narek, who was declared doctor of the Church in 2015 by Pope Francis, is an example of learning how to be merciful despite our faults, the pontiff said. “It is hard to find his equal in the ability to plumb the depths of misery lodged in the human heart,” Francis said. “Yet (Gregory of Narek) always balanced human weakness with God’s mercy, lifting up a heartfelt and tearful prayer of trust in the Lord.” “Gregory of Narek is a master of life, for he teaches us that the most important thing is to recognize that we are in need of mercy,” the Pope said.   “Despite our own failings and the injuries done to us, we must not become self-centred but open our hearts in sincerity and trust to the Lord.” In his remarks at the conclusion of Mass, the Pope extended a special greeting to “all those who with such generosity and practical charity are helping our brothers and sisters in need.” The pontiff particularly recalled the hospital in Ashotsk, known as the “Pope's Hospital,” which was established 25 years ago. This hospital, he said, “was born of the heart of Saint John Paul II, and it continues to be an important presence close to those who are suffering.” Pope Francis' June 24-26 to Armenia was organized following the invitation of Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II, the nation's civil authorities, and the Catholic Church. The visit also comes a little over 100 years after the 1915 Armenian genocide, during which some 1.5 million Christians were killed by the Ottoman Empire, and millions more displaced. Armenia has an ancient Christian legacy, being the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion, in 301. Read more

Gyumri, Armenia, Jun 25, 2016 / 03:40 am (CNA/EWTN News).- During the first major Mass of his three-day visit to Armenia, Pope Francis said faith is not a thing of the past, like an artifact in a museum. Rather, it is kept alive through continuous encounters with Christ. Faith “is born and reborn from a life-giving encounter with Jesus, from experiencing how his mercy illumines every situation in our lives,” the Pope said during his June 25 homily in the northwestern city of Gyurmi. The pontiff warned against the temptation to reduce faith to something that belongs in the past, as if it “were a beautiful illuminated book to be kept in a museum.” “Once it is locked up in the archives of history, faith loses its power to transform, its living beauty, its positive openness to all,” he said. The Pope acknowledged the faith of the people of Armenia, the first country to embrace Christianity, and the site of a bloody persecution against Christians 100 years ago. “He has remembered your faithfulness to the Gospel, the first-fruits of your faith, and all those who testified, even at the price of their blood, that God’s love is more precious than life itself,” he said. Pope Francis delivered his homily during Mass at Vartanants Square in Gyumri, the main event of his second day in the country. The city had recently been largely rebuilt after a 1988 earthquake devastated the region, and killed tens of thousands of people. Pope Francis made reference to the earthquake in his homily, in which he spoke on the theme of rebuilding. “Yet we might also wonder: what is the Lord asking us to build today in our lives, and even more importantly, upon what is he calling us to build our lives?” Drawing on this theme of rebuilding, the Pope challenged the faithful to consider not only what God wants them to build in their lives, but the foundation upon which they should build. The pontiff suggested three ways of building a solid foundation: memory, faith, and merciful love. Memory is recalling “what the Lord has done in and for us,” that “God has chosen us, loved us, called us and forgiven us,” Pope Francis said. “Great things have happened in our personal love story with him, and these must be treasured in our minds and hearts.” The Pope also spoke about the importance of preserving the “memory of a people.” “Your own people’s memory is ancient and precious. Your voices echo those of past sages and saints; your words evoke those who created your alphabet in order to proclaim God’s word; your songs blend the afflictions and the joys of your history.” “As you ponder these things, you can clearly recognize God’s presence. He has not abandoned you. Even in the face of tremendous adversity, we can say in the words of today’s Gospel that the Lord has visited your people.” “He has remembered your faithfulness to the Gospel, the first-fruits of your faith, and all those who testified, even at the price of their blood, that God’s love is more precious than life itself.” The second way of building a foundation is with faith, Pope Francis said. He addressed the danger of reducing faith to something that belongs in the past, as if it “were a beautiful illuminated book to be kept in a museum.” “Once it is locked up in the archives of history, faith loses its power to transform, its living beauty, its positive openness to all,” he warned. Rather, faith “is born and reborn from a life-giving encounter with Jesus, from experiencing how his mercy illumines every situation in our lives,” the Pope said, which should be renewed daily by reading God's word and praying silently “to open our hearts to his love.” “We would do well to let our encounter with the Lord’s tenderness enkindle joy in our hearts: a joy greater than sadness, a joy that even withstands pain and in turn becomes peace.” Francis challenged the faithful, especially young people, to respond when “Jesus calls us to follow him more closely, to give our lives to him and to our brothers and sisters.” “Do not be afraid; tell him 'Yes!' He knows us, he really loves us, and he wants to free our hearts from the burden of fear and pride,” the Pope said. “By making room for him, we become capable of radiating his love.” “Thus you will be able to carry on your great history of evangelization. This is something the Church and the world need in these troubled times, which are also a time of mercy.” The third and final way of building a foundation is to foster “merciful love” towards neighbor, the Pope said. “Concrete love is the Christian’s visiting card,” the pontiff said; “any other way of presenting ourselves could be misleading and even unhelpful, for it is by our love for one another that everyone will know that we are his disciples.” “We are called above all to build and rebuild paths of communion, tirelessly creating bridges of unity and working to overcome our divisions.” Pope Francis cited the first reading from Isaiah during the day's Mass, which reminds the faithful how “the Spirit of the Lord is always with those who carry glad tidings to the poor, who bind up the brokenhearted and console the afflicted.” “God dwells in the hearts of those who love him. God dwells wherever there is love, shown especially by courageous and compassionate care for the weak and the poor.” “How much we need this! We need Christians who do not allow themselves to be overcome by weariness or discouraged by adversity, but instead are available, open and ready to serve.” He called on people of good will to help others with not only words but also actions, and stressed the need for more just societies “where each individual can lead a dignified life and, above all, be fairly remunerated for his or her work.” St. Gregory of Narek, who was declared doctor of the Church in 2015 by Pope Francis, is an example of learning how to be merciful despite our faults, the pontiff said. “It is hard to find his equal in the ability to plumb the depths of misery lodged in the human heart,” Francis said. “Yet (Gregory of Narek) always balanced human weakness with God’s mercy, lifting up a heartfelt and tearful prayer of trust in the Lord.” “Gregory of Narek is a master of life, for he teaches us that the most important thing is to recognize that we are in need of mercy,” the Pope said.   “Despite our own failings and the injuries done to us, we must not become self-centred but open our hearts in sincerity and trust to the Lord.” In his remarks at the conclusion of Mass, the Pope extended a special greeting to “all those who with such generosity and practical charity are helping our brothers and sisters in need.” The pontiff particularly recalled the hospital in Ashotsk, known as the “Pope's Hospital,” which was established 25 years ago. This hospital, he said, “was born of the heart of Saint John Paul II, and it continues to be an important presence close to those who are suffering.” Pope Francis' June 24-26 to Armenia was organized following the invitation of Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II, the nation's civil authorities, and the Catholic Church. The visit also comes a little over 100 years after the 1915 Armenian genocide, during which some 1.5 million Christians were killed by the Ottoman Empire, and millions more displaced. Armenia has an ancient Christian legacy, being the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion, in 301. Read more

Yerevan, Jun 24, 2016 / 07:24 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Praying at the main cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church at the start of his three-day visit to the Caucasus nation, Pope Francis praised the “spirit of ecumenism,” and its role in promoting human dignity against “grave forms of material and spiritual poverty.” “We offer to the world – which so urgently needs it – a convincing witness that Christ is alive and at work, capable of opening new paths of reconciliation among the nations, civilizations and religions,” the Pope said Friday. “We offer a credible witness that God is love and mercy.” The Pope made these remarks during his visit to the St. Etchmiadzin cathedral at the invitation of Karekin II, the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is believed to be the oldest cathedral in the world. The Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenia's national church, is an Oriental Orthodox Church to which 93 percent of the population belongs. “When our actions are prompted by the power of Christ’s love, understanding and reciprocal esteem grow,” Francis said, “a fruitful ecumenical journey becomes possible, and all people of goodwill, and society as a whole, are shown a concrete way to harmonize the conflicts that rend civil life and create divisions that prove hard to heal.” The “spirit of ecumenism,” he explained, “prevents the exploitation and manipulation of faith.” This is because “requires us to rediscover faith’s authentic roots, and to communicate, defend and spread truth with respect for the dignity of every human being and in ways that reveal the presence of the love and salvation we wish to spread.” The visit to Saint Etchmiadzin cathedral, the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, is the first major stop on Pope Francis' June 24-26 visit to the Caucasus nation. Following a greeting by Catholicos Karekin II, Pope Francis Francis expressed his gratitude for the invitation to visit Saint Etchmiadzin, along with the bishops and archbishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Pope reflected on the nation's Christian legacy, saying he thanked God “for the light of faith kindled” in Armenia, which has given it a “particular identity and made it a herald of Christ among the nations.” “Christ is your glory and your light. He is the sun who has illuminated and enlivened you, accompanied and sustained you, especially in times of trial.” In 301 A.D., Armenia became the first nation to establish Christianity as its state religion, “at a time when persecutions still raged throughout the Roman Empire,” the pontiff recalled. “For Armenia, faith in Christ has not been like a garment to be donned or doffed as circumstances or convenience dictate,” he said. Rather, it is “an essential part of its identity, a gift of immense significance, to be accepted with joy, preserved with great effort and strength, even at the cost of life itself.” This “luminous testimony of faith,” the Pope said, “is a shining example of the great efficacy and fruitfulness of the baptism received over seventeen hundred years ago, together with the eloquent and holy sign of martyrdom, which has constantly accompanied the history of your people.” Francis turned to the dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church, and acknowledged the steps that have been taken over the years under the pontificates of St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Included among these are the consignment of the relic of Saint Gregory the Illuminator for the new Cathedral of Yerevan, and the joint declaration between St. John Paul II and Karekin II. “May the Holy Spirit help us to attain the unity for which our Lord prayed, so that his disciples may be one and the world may believe,” he said. The pontiff decried the divisions and conflicts in the world, along with “grave forms of material and spiritual poverty, including the exploitation of persons, not least children and the elderly.” “It expects from Christians a witness of mutual esteem and fraternal cooperation capable of revealing to every conscience the power and truth of Christ’s resurrection,” he said. Joint initiatives and cooperation in the context of a commitment to unity, therefore, serve the common good, the Pope said. “All these are like a radiant light in a dark night and a summons to experience even our differences in an attitude of charity and mutual understanding.” He closed his address by invoking the intercession of Mary, St. Gregory the Illuminator, and doctor of the Church St. Gregory of Narek to “bless all of you and the entire Armenian nation.” The Francis' visit to Armenia comes little over a hundred years after the 1915 Armenian genocide, during which some 1.5 million Christians were killed by the Ottoman Empire, and millions more displaced. He is also the second pontiff to visit the Caucasus nation, after St. John Paul II's in 2001. Read more