Vatican City, Nov 26, 2008 / 09:33 am
Pope Benedict and the Roman Catholic faithful were joined in the Paul VI audience hall today by Aram I, Catholicos of Cicilia of the Armenians and a group of Armenian clergy and laity. Before he delivered his general audience address, the Pope thanked Aram I for his efforts to further ecumenical dialogue and prayed for full unity between the two Churches.
"This fraternal visit," Pope Benedict said, speaking to the Armenian delegation in English, "is a significant occasion for strengthening the bonds of unity already existing between us, as we journey towards that full communion which is both the goal set before all Christ's followers and a gift to be implored daily from the Lord."
The group of about 50 faithful from the Armenian Apostolic Church is visiting Rome until November 27, and today they will visit the tombs of Sts. Peter and Paul.
The Holy Father invoked "the grace of the Holy Spirit on your pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and I invite all present to pray fervently to the Lord that your visit, and our meetings, will mark a further step along the path towards full unity."