Pope Benedict XVI’s "great joy" for the presence in Rome of His Holiness "Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, and a "thank you" for his "personal commitment to the growing friendship between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church". With these words full of gratitude, the Pope received this morning in Saint Peter’s Square His Holiness Karekin II, who sat next to the Pope for the general audience. "I pray added Benedict XVI that the light of the Holy Spirit may enlighten your pilgrimage on the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the important meetings you will have here, and especially our personal conversations. I ask all those who are here today to pray for God’s blessing of this visit". Then the Pope recalled the meeting the Patriarch had in 2000 and 2001 with John Paul II and his participation in his predecessor’s funeral.
