The rejoice and spiritual commotion caused by the election of new Pope Francis among Argentines has been shared by the Armenian community as well, both Roman Catholic and Apostolic Armenian, says Jorge Rouillon, a renowned writer and journalist who knows intimately both churches.
Mr. Rouillon, who for several years worked for Argentina’s La Nación newspaper and now presides the Gente de Prensa Club in Buenos Aires has interviewed Catholicoses Vazken I, Karekin I y Karekin II.
Argentina’s “Armenia” newspaper said Armenians always felt Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was “a true community friend.” Mr. Rouillon –who is well connected the Catholic Church and the Roman Curia– said the presence of Armenian Catholicos Karekin II in the Holy See, as well as that of Armenian President Serge Sarkissian, along with their entourage, caused a favorable impression in the Vatican.
“The churches of Roma and Armenia open up a new cycle of brotherly dialog, mutual understanding and Christian love,” said Pablo Mihran Sarafian, Armenian Church deacon in Buenos Aires. “I cannot convey appropriately the state of spiritual satisfaction and positive vibration that took place in the Armenian community of Argentina with Cardinal Bergoglio’s enthronement as Pope Francis I,” Mr. Sarafian said.
During Sunday’s badarak at the St. Gregory the Illuminator’s Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Archb. Kissag Mouradian, Armenian Church Primate in Argentina and Chile, issued an official celebration statement and expressed his wish of a prosperous reign by the Pontiff.
In comments quoted by Mr. Rouillon, Mr. Sarafian remembered that both Monsignor Mouradian and Cardinal Bergoglio for years were members of Argentina’s Christian Churches Ecumenical Commission, a period in which Cardinal Bergoglio “understood the Armenian people’s pain and gave his word of hope and continuity in the search for justice.”
Since 1989, Argentina’s Roman Catholic Armenians have attained the hierarchy of their own diocese, created by Pope John Paul II. Since last Sunday, thanksgiving masses are being celebrated every day in the evening in their Buenos Aires cathedral, Our Lady of Narek, for the election of Pope Francis I, Mr. Rouillon reports.
Cathedral priest Monsignor Pablo Hakimian is especially delighted, both because of the news that has caused commotion in Argentina and the world and because of a more personal episode. Pope Francis had received several Argentine bishops on March 20 for an audience, which Armenian Roman Catholic Bishop, Monsignor Vartan Boghossian missed due to a miscommunication.
Warned about it, the Pope wanted to receive Monsignor Boghosian, head of the St. Gregory of Narek Eparchy –the formal name of Argentina’s Armenian Roman Catholic Diocese– personally for an individual meeting, during which they exchanged gifts. Monsignor Pablo Hakimian was moved because the Pope, twice, asked Monsignor Boghosian to greet him on his behalf: “Greetings to Father Paul,” or as he said in Spanish, “Saludos al padre Pablo.”
