Bishop Declan Lang, Chair of the Bishops’ Conference Department for International Affairs:
“I learnt with sadness yesterday of the death of His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX, the Armenian Catholic Patriarch of Cilicia.
“The late patriarch was born in Egypt, studied Philosophy and Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and served his ministry in Egypt until his election as Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church in October 1999.
“I had the pleasure to meet with the late patriarch at his residence in Achrafieh, Beirut, during a visit to Lebanon in 2010. I found in him not only a man who was deeply committed to his faith but one who also believed that the presence of Christians in the MENA region was vital for the region despite the challenges facing them.
“I pray for the Armenian Catholic Church at this difficult moment: may the Lord rest his soul in peace and help with the election of a worthy successor.
“May the angels lead you into paradise: may the martyrs receive you at your coming, and lead you into the holy city, Jerusalem. May the choir of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, who once was poor, may you have everlasting rest.” Antiphon In Paradisum.
Յաւիտենական յիշատակն արդարոց օրհնութեամբ եղիցի:
