Armenian delegation to visit Rome

(POI) - The Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenians, Aram I, will be visiting Rome and the Vatican from November 23rd to 27th. The "important ecumenical event" was reported today by the Vatican radio station, relaying an official release. Important not only in itself, but also as it is another in what seems to be a rather frequent occurrence of visits to the Vatican by Armenian delegations.

On November 24th, reads the release, the Armenian delegation will stop and pray on the grave of John Paul II in Saint Peter's, then it will stop in Largo San Gregorio l'Illuminatore to pay tribute to Saint Gregory the Enlightener, considered the apostle of the apostolic Armenian Church. Then, soon after that, Benedict XVI and the Catholicos will meet in the Apostolic Palace, in a spirit of brotherhood and friendliness, stopping and prayer together at the Chapel of "Redemptoris Mater". Also on November 24th, the Patriarch of the Armenian Church will be received by the cardinal archpriest of the Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura, Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, for a tour of the holy places and to attend a short liturgy. On Tuesday November 25th – goes on the Vatican Radio Station, relaying the official news of the visit of the Armenian Catholicos of Rome and the Vatican –, Vespers will be officiated in the Basilica di San Bartolomeo at Isola Tiberina. On the occasion, Aram I will bring a memorial of the Armenian martyrs and will attend a time of prayer in the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere. The day after, the Catholicos, his retinue and the about fifty Armenian devotees who will have come to Rome for the occasion will be in Rome for a general audience with Benedict XVI. The visit will include, goes on the official release, several meetings with other authorities of the Roman Curia, in particular talks with cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Papal Council for the Promotion of the Unity of Christians. “An outstanding event – concludes the Vatican Radio Station – will be Catholicos’ visit to Pontificia Università Urbaniana, where he will chair academic proceedings in his honour”.