Pope Francis at the start of his last day in Armenia

Pope Francis at the start of his last day in Armenia

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis began his day Sunday with a private Mass in a chapel prepared for the occasion in the Apostolic Palace of Etchmiadzin where the Holy Father has been residing on his three day pastoral visit to Armenia.  Sunday is the last day of his visit to the very first nation to adopt Christianity as the state religion.

Following Mass, the Pope was to meet privately with Armenia’s 14 Catholic bishops and 12 priests before heading to San Tiridate Square to participate in the the Divine Liturgy celebrated by his Oriental Orthodox hosts.  The Holy Father is expected to deliver a discourse following an address by the Catholicos of all Armenians Karekin II.

 Pope Francis will wrap up the day with a visit to Khor Virap monastery which lies in the shadow of Mount Ararat, where tradition holds that Noah landed his ark. One of Armenia’s most sacred sites, Khor Virap is not far from the country’s closed border with Turkey.  

The Holy Father will depart from Yerevan's international airport in the evening to fly back to Rome and the Vatican.

www.en.radiovaticana.va