Armenians of the world had come to Gyumri to participate in the grand Holy Mass that Pope Francis served at Vardanants Square. Pastor of the Holy Cross Armenian Church of Akhalkalak, Priest Tatev Marukyan and pilgrims were also at Vardanants Square. Marukyan said the Holy Mass first and foremost made them feel spiritually satisfied.

“Like thousands of Armenian Christians around the world, we had also come to participate in this significant all-Christian event. Everyone was praying to God for peace in Armenia, for peace to the sons of the Armenian nation, for the welfare of the Armenian people and for peace in the region at this difficult moment in time. What was also very nice was the unity of the two Christian churches since there are many challenges facing Christendom today. It was very important for the world to see that all Catholics of the world pray with the Armenian Christians,” he stated in an interview with “Armenpress”.

Armenians from Buenos Aires were also participating in the Holy Mass. According to Rouben Boyajian, the visit of the Pope to Armenia is truly a major and historic moment for Armenia. “I am very happy to be in Gyumri and to see the Pope, especially since this is my first visit to Armenia. The visit of the Pope is very important in the spiritual sense, as well as in the sense of the Armenian Genocide. The Pope has done a lot for the Armenians,” Boyajian stated in an interview.