President Serzh Sargsyan on December 12 arrived on a working visit
to Italy and met with Pope Benedict XVI.
As reported by Armenian News NEWS.am Serzh Sargsyan and the Pope met
in the extended format, the meeting was attended by members of the
delegation, headed by the President.
The parties exchanged views on cooperation between the Catholic Church
and the Holy See Echmiadzin, the great role of churches in society and
stressed the importance of education of the generations in the spirit
of Christian values.
President Sargsyan also met with Secretary of Vatican, Cardinal
Bertone Tarchitsio. The parties stressed the need to deepen the
bilateral relations at a high level. President Sargsyan and Cardinal
Bertone touched on cultural relations. The President expressed
gratitude to the Vatican for the preservation of Armenian cultural
heritage abroad. Both sides expressed confidence that the appointment
of ambassadors to Armenia and the Vatican will give a new impetus to
bilateral relations.
