His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians on 12 July received a group of Austrian Catholic pilgrims at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The pilgrims were under the leadership of Primate of the Gurki Diocese of the Austrian Catholic Church, Bishop Aloyce Schwarz.

Welcoming the pilgrims’ visit to Armenia and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Supreme Patriarch mentioned that such visits contribute to not only mutual recognition, but also the strengthening of relations between the two countries and the enrichment of cultures. His Holiness also attached importance to the role of pilgrimages in the lives of Christians and underlined that they create an opportunity to pray to God for the welfare of peoples, world peace and the effectiveness of the mission of the Church of Christ.

Touching upon the close ties between the Armenian Apostolic and the Roman Catholic Churches, the Catholicos of All Armenians particularly expressed his gratitude to Austria’s Catholic Cardinal Shonborn for his support that has helped provide spiritual servants of the Armenian Church with the opportunity to continue their studies at higher educational institutions in Austria.

The Supreme Patriarch also answered the pilgrims’ questions related to the history of the Armenian Church, the role of the Church in social life and the educational programs and activities of the Mother See.

 RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Austria Arman Kirakossian also attended the meeting, reports the Mother See information office to “Hayern Aysor”.