Vatican City, Jan 27, 2005 / 22:00 pm
This morning Pope John Paul II received Robert Kocharian, president of the Republic of Armenia to the Vatican, and recalled their previous meetings, first, in the Vatican in 1999 and later in Yerevan in 2001, during the Pope's apostolic visit to Armenia.
The Pope told the president of his "sincere appreciation for the good relations between the Holy See and the government of your country. I know that the Catholic community is welcomed and respected, and that its various activities contribute to the well-being of the entire nation."
He went on, "Everyone earnestly hopes that the collaboration between the Holy See and the Armenian government will continue to grow and, where the situation calls for it, that eventual improvements to the status of the Catholic Church will be made."
The Holy Father also gave assurances of the "friendly and respectful relations between the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church.”