The Church is called to play a "primary and irreplaceable role" in the "walk towards a progress that respects religious values and draws from them its foundation and its urge to help the suffering, in order to build a future of justice, trust and transparency for the whole nation". This was said by card. Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, in the speech t he gave yesterday in the Apostolic Armenian Cathedral of Etchmiadzin, where he was received by His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II. "I feel at home too, as I give you the fraternal embrace of the Holy Father who will be gladly waiting for you in Rome", said Bertone to Karekin, expressing the Pope’s "admiration" "for the extraordinary cultural and spiritual heritage that the Armenians have left to mankind". "Benedict XVI wishes you may have days of internal and external peace" and that "you will overcome those social conditions that for many people are still uncertain", said the cardinal, recalling the "loyalty" of the Armenian church, which "was paid for in the past with lots of bloodshed". "Holiness is alive amidst Christians of different origins and the saints are the live testimony of the presence of God amidst us", said Bertone, praising Karekin’s commitment to providing "social facilities" to serve the poor, "to educate the young, the true future of the Church and the country".” ” ” “
