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VATICAN NO. 2 HEADS TO ARMENIA DESPITE UNREST ON SHORTENED VISIT
PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung)
March 4 2008
Austria
VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican No. 2 traveled to Armenia Tuesday
despite clashes there over the weekend that left eight people dead
and more than 100 injured, relaying Pope Benedict XVI's wishes for
peace in the region.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican's secretary of state, had been
scheduled to leave for the former Soviet republic on Sunday. But he
put off his departure for a few days because of the unrest.
"Benedict XVI wishes you days of internal and external peace,"
Bertone said during a joint prayer Tuesday with Karekin II, leader
of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The remarks were reported by the
Vatican's daily newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian declared a 20-day state of
emergency Saturday night following a day of clashes between government
forces and demonstrators protesting alleged fraud in the Feb. 19
presidential election.
According to the Vatican newspaper, Bertone also said the pope hoped
for better social conditions in Armenia and for future of justice
and transparency in the country, attaching great importance to the
role of the church in the process.
Bertone said the pope wished to assure the Armenian clergy and people
that he is praying for them.
The visit by a top Vatican official to the former Soviet Republic
underlines Benedict's desire for closer relations with Orthodox
Christians.
Bertone told Karekin that the pope "joyfully awaits you in Rome to
express in person his admiration for the extraordinary cultural and
spiritual treasure that Armenians have given to humanity.
Bertone is due to meet with Kocharian, as well as other political and
religious leaders, during his two-day visit, the Vatican said. He is
scheduled to leave Thursday for Azerbaijan, as planned.
Bertone's Armenia trip is his second in as many weeks to a country
undergoing political uncertainties. He arrived in Cuba for a weeklong
visit on Feb. 20, a day after Fidel Castro resigned from his 49-year
rule. The timing of that visit was coincidental as well.
PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung)
March 4 2008
Austria
VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican No. 2 traveled to Armenia Tuesday
despite clashes there over the weekend that left eight people dead
and more than 100 injured, relaying Pope Benedict XVI's wishes for
peace in the region.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican's secretary of state, had been
scheduled to leave for the former Soviet republic on Sunday. But he
put off his departure for a few days because of the unrest.
"Benedict XVI wishes you days of internal and external peace,"
Bertone said during a joint prayer Tuesday with Karekin II, leader
of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The remarks were reported by the
Vatican's daily newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian declared a 20-day state of
emergency Saturday night following a day of clashes between government
forces and demonstrators protesting alleged fraud in the Feb. 19
presidential election.
According to the Vatican newspaper, Bertone also said the pope hoped
for better social conditions in Armenia and for future of justice
and transparency in the country, attaching great importance to the
role of the church in the process.
Bertone said the pope wished to assure the Armenian clergy and people
that he is praying for them.
The visit by a top Vatican official to the former Soviet Republic
underlines Benedict's desire for closer relations with Orthodox
Christians.
Bertone told Karekin that the pope "joyfully awaits you in Rome to
express in person his admiration for the extraordinary cultural and
spiritual treasure that Armenians have given to humanity.
Bertone is due to meet with Kocharian, as well as other political and
religious leaders, during his two-day visit, the Vatican said. He is
scheduled to leave Thursday for Azerbaijan, as planned.
Bertone's Armenia trip is his second in as many weeks to a country
undergoing political uncertainties. He arrived in Cuba for a weeklong
visit on Feb. 20, a day after Fidel Castro resigned from his 49-year
rule. The timing of that visit was coincidental as well.