Some 600 journalists have so far applied for accreditation to cover Pope Francis’ upcoming visit the Armenia, the Foreign Ministry said in a tweet.

Earlier, Pope Francis asked the faithful to pray for his trip.

“I ask you to pray for me, who in a few days will go as a pilgrim to an eastern land, Armenia, the first among the nations to receive the Gospel of Jesus,” he said at an audience for the Reunion of Aid Agencies For the Eastern Churches.

The pontiff will arrive in Armenia on June 24.