Wednesday, 27 October 2021 marked an important and historic new date in Armenian-Vatican relations, strengthening the significant friendly ties that have existed between the two States over the centuries, with the opening in Yerevan of the new office of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See.
On this occasion, the Deputy Secretary of State of the Holy See, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, arrived in Yerevan and presided over the official opening ceremony of the Nunciature.
Archbishop Peña Parra at Tsitsernakaberd
Visit to the Genocide Memorial Museum
Before the opening, he visited the Genocide Memorial Museum, where in a message written in the Book of Honour he noted that he had come “as a pilgrim of peace to the Genocide Memorial to express sorrow for the victims of the Great Calamity.” He then raised a prayer to God for the eternal rest of the victims, stating that he “fervently prays that similar events never recur in the future, and that all persons live in freedom, seeing their rights secured and respected.”
“May the Lord comfort the heirs of the victims and grant the grace of forgiveness, to build a new world founded on mutual respect and acceptance of others.”
Meeting at the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Within the framework of his visit to Armenia, Archbishop Peña Parra met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Ararat Mirzoyan, and at the conclusion of the meeting, during a press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he noted that he brought with him the greetings of Pope Francis, “in whose memory the recollections of the apostolic journey to Armenia in 2016 remain vivid.”
The representative of the Holy See expressed gratitude to the President and Government of the Republic of Armenia, as well as to the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia accredited to the Holy See, Karen Nazaryan, for the “praiseworthy collaboration” that made possible the opening of the Holy See’s diplomatic representation in Armenia. He also thanked the Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Armenia, Archbishop José Betancourt, who, despite all difficulties, made the opening of the Nunciature possible through several months of work.
Opening of the new office of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See
It Is Necessary to Build Bridges, Create Opportunities for Encounters
“I am confident that this Apostolic Nunciature will be, for Armenia and for the broadest circles of the international community, a symbol of the fact that it is necessary to build bridges, create opportunities for encounters, and open new paths for a just and lasting peace in this region,” said Archbishop Peña Parra, who then turned to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Holy See, expressing the wish that “this office may be able to expand the Holy See’s diplomatic mission before the civil and governmental authorities,” as well as “contribute to fraternity and fellowship with the Armenian Apostolic Church, and strengthen communion within the local Catholic community.”
The Presence of the Catholic Church
“Today’s event is also a testimony to the esteem that the Successor of the Apostle Peter and the Catholic Church hold for this noble Land, where dwells a part of that People who have lived for centuries and were the first to embrace the Christian faith,” said the representative of the Holy See, emphasising that “the Catholic Church, in its various rites, is present in this country through numerous social, educational and humanitarian activities,” referring in particular to the “Redemptoris Mater” hospital in Ashotsk, “whose opening took place in 1991 at the behest of Pope Saint John Paul II,” to “Caritas Armenia,” which operates throughout the territory of the Republic with its 52 centres, to the work carried out by the “Mekhitarist Fathers,” and to the activity of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
“These institutions have worked actively within Armenian society for decades and have contributed to its development,” said Archbishop Peña Parra, noting that they “sometimes have need of a legal ‘status’ and of clearer canonical guidelines for their work and their activities.”
“The physical presence of the Apostolic Nunciature will certainly be useful in resolving problems and finding satisfactory solutions through the application of more appropriate legal means,” added the representative of the Holy See, who at the end of his speech also emphasised “the Holy See’s support for all those issues on the agenda of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the International Community that relate to peace and disarmament, human rights, human and cultural development, religious freedom, and the protection and preservation of the environment.”
May the Entire Armenian Nation Enjoy Lasting Peace
He concluded his speech by expressing the hope that “the entire Armenian Nation may enjoy lasting peace and genuine social development, continuing to follow those Christian roots to which the Fathers of the Armenian nation have borne witness over the centuries.”
Opening of the new office of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See
The Opening of the “Pope’s House”
After the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, in front of the Nunciature’s new office located at 10/1 Northern Avenue in Yerevan, the ceremony of raising the flag of the Holy See took place, in the presence of a small number of high-ranking persons, taking into account the epidemiological situation related to Covid-19 prevailing in the country.
In his speech delivered on the occasion of the opening ceremony, Archbishop Peña Parra again placed emphasis on the feelings of spiritual closeness of Pope Francis, affirming that this “new Apostolic Nunciature is a clear sign of the solicitude that the Holy Father holds for the people of this noble Land.”
“Now we can say that the Holy Father has a home in Armenia,” said Archbishop Peña Parra, emphasising that it is the Pope’s wish “that this new Home serve the Apostolic Nuncio in the fulfilment of his mission before the Republic of Armenia and the local Christian community.”
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
“Only a few years ago, Armenia made the welcome decision to open an Embassy to the Holy See and to appoint an Ambassador ‘resident’ in Rome. Today the Holy See graciously reciprocates that gesture, hoping that our diplomatic relations will continue to deepen,” added the Deputy Secretary of State of the Holy See, recalling the recent visit to the Vatican of the President of the Republic of Armenia, Armen Sarkissian.
“I would also like to emphasise the significant anniversaries that occurred this year: the 30th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations, the 20th anniversary of the visit of St. John Paul II to Armenia, and the 5th anniversary of the apostolic journey of Pope Francis,” said Archbishop Peña Parra, noting among other things that “the Armenians are a people of deep faith… from the day they embraced Christianity, the Christian faith has been a support to this great people, especially during the difficult moments of their history,” and “faith contributed to shaping Armenia’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage, which today stands as a source of pride and will continue to inspire and enrich the lives of future Armenian generations.”
Cooperation for the Sake of Peace and the Common Good
“The Holy See greatly looks forward to having lasting bilateral cooperation with Armenia on numerous issues, especially those relating to the free expression of religion and the dignity of every human life, so that we may learn from history and avoid repeating some of its darkest pages,” added the high-ranking Vatican representative, also alluding to the ties existing with the Armenian Apostolic Church and expressing the wish that “this new Home of the Holy Father in Armenia be perceived as a further affirmation of our communion” and that it “bring closer the realisation of the will for unity that the Lord expressed for His followers.”
The Pastoral Care of Pope Francis
Archbishop Peña Parra then noted that “the Apostolic Nunciature also manifests the pastoral care of the Holy Father for the local Catholic community.”
“Although small in number, the significant positive contribution of the Catholic Church in Armenian society, through its various health and humanitarian services, is a clear sign of its commitment to serving all those in need,” and “an incentive to live the faith with joy, in communion with our brothers and sisters of the Armenian Apostolic Church,” said Archbishop Peña Parra, concluding his remarks by expressing gratitude to all those present and in a special way to the Apostolic Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop José Betancourt, and his staff, “for the time and efforts invested in realising this wish of the Holy Father.”
Opening of the new office of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See
The Devoted Activity of the Armenian Catholic Leadership
It should be noted that the Armenian Catholic Church in Armenia, following Armenia’s independence, has continued to carry out its mission in all the communities of the country, restoring numerous churches and offering its spiritual service to the Armenian faithful. Then, in view of the difficult social and public situation created by the post-earthquake period and the first Artsakh war, it decided to establish “Armenian Caritas,” in cooperation with “Caritas Internationalis” and “Caritas Europa,” with the aim of addressing the many issues troubling Armenian society.
Among the institutions, mention should also be made of “Emili Aregak,” the social service centre for persons with special needs, which has been noted as the first centre of its kind created in the South Caucasus, serving, together with other programmes, the entire Armenian society without distinction.
One cannot fail to mention, then, the unreserved devotion of the Armenian Catholic Church and “Armenian Caritas” during the last Artsakh war, in service to the soldier fighting at the front and to the thousands of families subjected to displacement.
Important and great work is also carried out by the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception through the orphanage and elderly care centres in Gyumri and other programmes.
“VaticanNews”
