JOHN PAUL II BIDS FAREWELL TO ARMENIAN PEOPLE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 27, 2001 (VIS) - John Paul II bid farewell this evening at Zvartnotz International Airport in Yerevan, Armenia, to the President of the Republic, Robert Kotcharian, civil and political authorities, and His Holiness Karekin II, Patriarch of all Armenians.

After some brief words by the Armenian president and Catholicos Karekin II, the Pope thanked the Armenian people for their "yearning for Christian unity. Thank you most of all," he said, "for the witness of your faith."

"The terrible events at the beginning of the last century, which brought your people 'to the brink of annihilation', the long years of totalitarian oppression, the devastation of a disastrous earthquake: none of these," he affirmed, "has been able to prevent the Armenian soul from regaining courage and recovering its great dignity.

"It is true," he continued, "these are difficult years, and your heart is sometimes weary and unsure. ... But, dear Armenian friends, hold on to hope! Remember that you have put your trust in Christ and said yes to Him forever. Supported by your Armenian brothers and sisters throughout the world you are committed to the task of rebuilding in freedom your country and your society."

The Holy Father concluded asking God that "the leaders of Armenia and of the other peoples of the region will have the wisdom and perseverance to move forward courageously on the path of peace, for without peace there can be no genuine development and prosperity."

The papal plane departed at 8:00 p.m. local time (5:00 p.m. Rome time), and landed at Rome's Ciampino Airport at 9:15 p.m. John Paul II then travelled by automobile to his summer residence at Castelgandolfo, and will return to the Vatican on Saturday evening.

PV-ARMENIA;FAREWELL CEREMONY;...;YEREVAN;VIS;20010928;Word: 300;