Monsignor Bezezian, the Pope will leave the seed of brotherhood in Greece

On the eve of his arrival in Greece, the second stage of the 35th apostolic journey of Pope Francis, Monsignor Hovsep Bezezian, Ordinary of the Armenian Catholic Church, describes the joy and enthusiasm of the local community: "I hope the brotherhood between us will be strengthened"

Robert Attarian - Vatican City Enthusiasm and joy awaiting the Pope's arrival in Greece tomorrow morning. Speaking about it is Monsignor Hovsep Bezezian, apostolic administrator of the Catholic Armenians of Greece, who describes the preparation experienced by the Armenian Catholic Church in view of this important event as an opportunity to take stock of the faith. Young Armenian refugees from Syria and hosted by the Armenian Catholic Ordinariate are particularly involved. The expectations of the trip Dwelling on relations with the Greek Orthodox Church, Monsignor Bezezian describes the unique experience lived each year by the Armenian Catholic Church during the week of prayer for Christian unity: a significant moment that also sees the involvement of the Greek Orthodox Church. The hope of the apostolic administrator is that the fruit of the Pope's journey will be a strengthening of fraternity among all.

How preparations are progressing for the Pope’s reception next weekend. Are people happy? Do you have any expectations? The preparatory phase began a few months ago, when the Catholic Church in Greece learned the news of this visit with great joy and enthusiasm. Speaking of the preparatory phase I would not refer to the simple preparation that is done to receive a great character, but it is much more. We will receive the successor of Peter, the Holy Father, head of the universal Catholic Church, which means that there has also been a spiritual preparation. The Pope, in his message addressed to Cyprus and Greece through the mass media, recalled that he comes as a "pilgrim to the sources of humanity in magnificent lands blessed by history, culture and the Gospel". These words are an invitation for us to meditate, to prepare ourselves to meet him. Where are we in the faith? What values, what culture and what history are we leaving to our children? In addition to the prayer that was drawn up by our Ordinariate and which is repeated continuously by the faithful, our young people with the other young people of Athens had a preparatory spiritual meeting, and our Ordinariate organized, separately, a meeting with young people to deepen and understand the role of the Successor of St. Peter in the Universal Church. On the occasion of World Youth Day, the Pope asked the young people who were close to him during the Angelus prayer to say something creative. We too are invited to say and experience creative things.

How is the Catholic Church in general and the Armenian Catholic Church in particular living this expectation and how will the faithful be involved in the meetings with the Holy Father? It is an honor for our Armenian Catholic Church and a great consolation and encouragement. I am reminded of Elizabeth's words to Our Lady "What do I owe that the mother of my Lord comes to me?" (Luke 1,43). Our Ordinariate is collaborating directly with the Apostolic Nunciature of Athens to lend a hand, both inside the Nunciature Palace, and in hosting various Vatican and Holy See delegations, especially young people, Armenian Syrian refugees housed in the our church. Some of our faithful will participate in the Holy Mass on December 5th and one of our girls will be among those who will recite the prayer of the faithful in Armenian language. While on Monday 6, during the Pope's meeting with young people, a Syrian Armenian Catholic refugee, currently hosted at our church, will give a beautiful testimony and 10 other young Armenian Catholics will all be present at that meeting. How are relations with the Greek Orthodox Church?

I had the honor of being received twice by the Archbishop of Athens Ieronimos, during private audiences. Our Ordinariate every year, and it is the only church that does so, on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, invites the archbishop to participate in prayer meetings and he usually sends a letter of thanks, naming an Archimandrite to represent him and it is usually he who reads the Gospel. What do you expect from this trip? I would like to go back to the video message from the Pope who repeated the word "brotherhood" nine times in the space of five minutes. Here is the fruit that I hope will be strengthened and encouraged is the brotherhood among us all. I repeat the words of Francis "not only Catholics but all". "Fraternity" means that there is love and as the religious song says "Where there is love, there is God".