Pope Benedict XVI congratulated Karekin II with the tenth anniversary of his election and enthronement as the Supreme Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, by sending a message to him today. The Pope told the Patriarch that he hopes the good relations between the two Churches would "continue to grow in the years ahead."

In the Pope's words, Karekin II's work has been "remarkable," an assessment that he went on to spell out in his message. The Pontiff praised "the flourishing of new initiatives for the Christian education of the young, for the training of clergy, the creation of new parishes, the building of new churches and community centers, as well as the promotion of Christian values in the social and cultural life of the nation."