Ecumenic prayer honoring Pope ends in Yerevan central square (updates)

5:11pm A concert in the Republic Square concluded the ceremony honoring the Pope's historic journey to Armenia.

5:55pm: The Catholicos also expressed his regret that millions of people survive terrorism and wars, often losing their lives, with children belonging to different religions and beliefs experiencing torture in different parts of the world.

“Our people is now living in conditions of undeclared war, paying a high price for peace on our country’s borders, the Nagorno-Karabakh people’s right to free life in their cradle,” Garegin II said. 

7:39pm After his prayer to God, the Armenian religious patriarch delivered his address to the Christian believers.

“How lucky are those peace-lovers who are fortunate enough to be named sons of God . Your holiness Jesus Christ, Respected President of the Republic, dear pious people,” said the Catholicos.  


7:30pm: The concert is over and Pope Francis, accompanied by Garegn II, approached the platform. 

6:45 pm While the invitees were taking their seats, and the people around were gathering to listen to the prayers, the State Youth Orchestr played a concert. 

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan and his wife Rita Sargsyan, as well as government officials, arrived at Republic Square.

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Yerevan’s Republic Square is now hosting an ecumenic assemly to honor Pope Francis' historic journey to Armenia.

A Peace Prayer will follow the ceremony.

Earlier today, the pontific visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial accompanied by President Serzh Sargsyan and Catholicos of All Armenian Garegin II. He also visited the Memory Park to bless the tree planted in his honor.

The pontific later delivered a prayer with the Catholicos in the Vardanants Square of Gyumri. 

After the open-air ceremony, the pontific toured the second largest in Popemobile, greeting the enthusiastic residents who had taken to the streets to meet with him. 

He also visited a nunnery of the Armenian Sisters of Immaculate Conception and the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God (aka Cathedral of Seven Wounds). A visit to the Catholic Church concluded the Pope's trip to Gyumri.

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