From 2 to 9 March, card. Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State of the Vatican, which is ending his trip in Cuba today, on the invitation of the religious and civilian authorities, will visit Armenia and Azerbaijan, to express Benedict XVI’s sympathy for the Catholic devotees of those countries and meet the government authorities of both countries. The news was relayed by the Newsroom of the Holy See. While in Armenia, card. Bertone will be received by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, to whom he will give an autographed letter from Benedict XVI, in which he confirms the esteem and wish of the Catholic Church to continue the ecumenical path along with the Armenian Apostolic Church. From 6 to 9 March, the visit will move to Azerbaijan, where he will meet the leader of the Muslims of Caucasus, Sheik ul-Islam Allashukur Pashazade, and other religious leaders, to express them the will of the Catholic Church to contribute to the common commitment to peace, agreement between the peoples, and the good of the human family. In Baku, Bertone will attend the unveiling of the new Catholic Church erected on the land gifted to the Servant of God John Paul II by the president Heydar Aliyev, the father of the current head of state. ” ” ” “
