CWN - Pope Francis paid tribute to the late Armenian Cathoilc Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, in a message that was read at the prelate’s funeral on July 1.
Cardinal Leonard Sandri, the prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, represented the Holy Father at the funeral, held in Beirut, and read the papal message. In it the Pontiff spoke of the Armenian Patriarch as “deeply rooted on the Rock that is Christ,” and said that he “spared nothing” in his efforts to preach the Gospel.
Patriarch Nerses also “dedicated himself to ensuring that the just commemoration of the sufferings of the Armenian people throughout their history become an action of God's grace,” the Pope noted.
Pope Francis recalled the participation of Patriarch Nerses in Vatican ceremonies, in April ceremonies at which St. Gregory of Narek, an 10th-century Armenian monk, was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church.
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