Pope Francis to Arrive in Yerevan on June 24, Visit Armenian Genocide Memorial

YEREVAN — Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church will arrive in Armenia on June 24 for a three day visit that includes a visit to Genocide Memorial at Tsitsernakaberd, attend an ecumenical service in Yerevan’s central square and hold an open-air mass in Gyumri, according to Armenian presidential press service.

After the official welcome ceremony at Zvartnots Airport the Pontiff will leave for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The same day Pope Francis will meet with President Serzh Sarkisian at the Presidential Palace. His Holiness is also expected to meet with representatives of the Armenian authorities, civil society and diplomatic corps.

The first day of the visit will be concluded with a meeting with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

In the morning of June 25 Pope Francis will visit the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial and the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute. He will later leave for Gyumri together with the Catholicos of All Armenians to serve a Holy Mass at Vardanants Square. In the evening of June 25 an ecumenical service and a Prayer for Peace will take place at the Republic Square in Yerevan.

On June 26 the Pope will meet with Armenian Catholic Bishops and will participate in a Holy Liturgy and an ecumenical dinner at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Pope Francis and the Catholicos of all Armenians will sign a joint statement and will hold a prayer at Khor Virap Monastery.