Pope says Azerbaijan’s rejection of peace in Karabakh stems from evil

PanARMENIAN.Net - Pope Francis on Sunday, June 24 said that Azerbaijan’s rejection of peace for a piece of land means serving the evil.

Returning to the Vatican from his three-day visit, the Pope promised to communicate to the Azerbaijanis everyhting he has seen and felt in Armenia.

“They may be unable to reach a deal on the method of establishing peace,” he said.

Leaving Armenia, Francis said he was happy to visit the country.

“I am happy to have visited Armenia, the first nation to accept Christianity as its religion, and I thank all for the welcome,” he said in a tweet.

Francis arrived in Armenia Friday and was greeted by the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II, President Serzh Sargsyan and First Lady Rita Sargsyan.

The pope was greeted in Etchmiadzin with the Hrashapar (wondrously glorious) service, which is traditionally offered as a service of welcome to top religious clerics.

He then left for the presidential palace in Yerevan and was greeted by Sargsyan. The two headed for the receptions hall for an auditorium.

On Saturday, he visited the Armenian Genocide memorial and left a note in the guestbook. Also Saturday, the Pope and the Catholicos delivered a holy mass in Gyumri, the secong biggest country in Armenia.

In the evening, the pontiff served an ecumenical service and prayer for peace at the Republic Square in Yerevan.

On Sunday, Francis participated in a divine liturgy celebrated by Karekin, then headed for Khor Virap and released doves towards the Armenian-Turkish border.

Read aslo: Pope was at first told in Rome the term genocide was offensive