Scottish Catholic Observer

As part of the trip, the Pope (above) celebrated Mass in Gyumri on Saturday, a city with a significant Catholic population that was hit by the Spitak earthquake in 1988.

The Pope praised their ‘steadfast faith; when rebuilding their shattered town before asking them to consider what they are called to ‘build today’.

‘Concrete love is the Christian’s calling card,’ the Pope said. ‘Any other way of presenting ourselves could be misleading and even unhelpful.’

Throughout his three-day visit, the Pope continued to emphasise mutual dialogue and respect towards the Apostolic and Eastern Orthodox Communities in Armenia.

During the Gyumri mass Catholicos Karekin II, Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, spoke about the destruction and closure of Christian churches during Soviet rule and even described how the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral of the Seven Holy Wounds in Gyumri became an ecumenical place of worship for the Armenian Apostolic, Catholic and Eastern Orthodox communities.

The message of overcoming divisions among Christians and to work for peace in the world was emphasised by Pope Francis and Patriarch Karekin during an ecumenical evening prayer service in Armenian capital Yerevan.

Both the Pope and the Patriarch walked to Republic Square, where they blessed the crowds and stopped to shake hands with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

The Pope called for Christian unity in working and praying for peace, especially for Christian communities in the Middle East.

‘We are called to find the courage needed to abandon rigid opinions and personal interests in the name of the love that bends low and bestows itself, in the name of the humble love that is the blessed oil of the Christian life, the precious spiritual balm that heals, strengthens and sanctifies,’ the Pope said.

The Pope ended his visit to the capital by visiting the Armenian Genocide memorial, calling for renewed reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey, and an end to fighting with Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Patriarch Karekin spoke to the crowds, condemning Azeri violence but also welcoming refugees including those from Armenian Christian communities of Syria and Iraq.

‘With hope in God, they wait for peaceful days to arrive in their native lands,’ the Patriarch said. ‘May our merciful Lord cleanse the world from the tragedies of evil and grant peace and protection.’