Pope encourages unity of Armenian Christians

Published: 2006-03-28

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI encouraged Armenian Orthodox and Catholics, who trace their origins back to St. Gregory the Illuminator, to work to restore their unity in one community united with the pope. Meeting March 20 with members of the synod of the Armenian Catholic Church and nearly 200 Armenian Catholic pilgrims, the pope praised the ecumenical initiatives undertaken by the Armenian Catholic patriarchate, based in Beirut, Lebanon, and the Armenian Apostolic Church, an ancient and independent Oriental Orthodox Church that in recent years has improved its relations with the Vatican. The Armenian Apostolic Church is the dominant religious denomination in Armenia; its total membership inside and outside Armenia is estimated at 6 million people. "I encourage this new-found fraternity and collaboration, hoping that from it there would arise new initiatives for a common path toward full unity," the pope told the group led by Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni of Beirut, the Armenian Catholic patriarch.

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