NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      WARSAW, JUN 11 (ZENIT).- The trip John Paul II planned to Armenia for the first weekend of July will have to be canceled. According to Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the Pope met with Archbishop Khajak Barsamian, special envoy of Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, Karekin I, in Warsaw yesterday to discuss the matter.

      "During the meeting, Archbishop Barsamian expressed the sadness of the Catholicos at having to ask the Holy Father to postpone his visit to Armenia because of the worsening condition of the Patriarch's health," Navarro-Valls said.

      The Patriarch, who is 67 years old, is suffering from throat cancer. Recently he underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his larynx.

      John Paul II has done everything in his power to make the trip possible, as it is of decisive importance to the ecumenical dialogue among Christians. Now it all hinges on the Patriarch's health. In 1996 the Catholic and Armenian Churches signed a theological agreement which put an end to 1500 years of differences on essential aspects regarding the person of Christ. ZE99061104

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