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A fraternal hug sealed by an Armenian song ended the greetings exchanged in Saint Peter’s Square between Pope Benedict XVI and His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, before the Wednesday general audience began. After the Pope’s welcome address, the Patriarch spoke: “Despite any dogmatic and cultural differences, we are all children of the only God, and brothers and sisters in His holy love”. A powerful applause broke out in Saint Peter’s Square at this sentence. Then, the Catholicos ha added: “we are all God’s children”, “intolerance and conflicts cannot be allowed within our Churches”. In his speech, the Patriarch recalled that “the international situation is not simple”: “wars and terrorism” are saddening “the Middle East and many other regions in the world”. Christians are responsible for “serving peace, unity and solidarity” among peoples. “We are Armenians – said Karekin II -, a people that survived the genocide. We are well aware of the value of life, of fraternity, of friendship, of peace and security”. From Saint Peter’s Square, Karekin II asked for “a universal condemnation of all genocides” that have been perpetrated through history and that “go on even today”. And he recalled the Christians’ “responsibility” for justice and for the “reconciliation of peoples”.
News by SIR